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rudiment - 7 dictionary results

ru⋅di⋅ment

  [roo-duh-muhnt]
Use rudiment in a Sentence
–noun
1. Usually, rudiments.
a. the elements or first principles of a subject: the rudiments of grammar.
b. a mere beginning, first slight appearance, or undeveloped or imperfect form of something: the rudiments of a plan.
2. Biology. an organ or part incompletely developed in size or structure, as one in an embryonic stage, one arrested in growth, or one with no functional activity, as a vestige.
Origin:
1540–50; < L rudīmentum early training, first experience, initial stage, equiv. to rudi(s) unformed, rough (see rude ) + -mentum -ment (-ī- for -i- after verbal derivs.)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ru·di·ment   (rōō'də-mənt)   
n.  
  1. A fundamental element, principle, or skill, as of a field of learning. Often used in the plural.
  2. Something in an incipient or undeveloped form. Often used in the plural: the rudiments of social behavior in children; the rudiments of a plan of action.
  3. Biology An imperfectly or incompletely developed organ or part.

[Latin rudīmentum, from rudis, rough, unformed.]
ru'di·men'tal (-měn'tl) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Rudiment

Ru"di*ment\, n. [L. rudimentum, fr. rudis unwrought, ignorant, rude: cf. F. rudiment. See Rude.]

1. That which is unformed or undeveloped; the principle which lies at the bottom of any development; an unfinished beginning.

but I will bring thee where thou soon shalt quit Those rudiments, and see before thine eyes The monarchies of the earth. --Milton.

the single leaf is the rudiment of beauty in landscape. --I. Taylor.

2. Hence, an element or first principle of any art or science; a beginning of any knowledge; a first step.

This boy is forest-born, And hath been tutored in the rudiments of many desperate studies. --Shak.

There he shall first lay down the rudiments Of his great warfare. --Milton.

3. (Biol.) An imperfect organ or part, or one which is never developed.

Rudiment

Ru"di*ment\, v. t. To furnish with first principles or rules; to insrtuct in the rudiments. --Gayton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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rudiment 
1548, from M.Fr. (16c.), from L. rudimentum "early training, first experience, beginning, first principle," from rudis "unlearned, untrained" (see rude). Rudimentary is from 1839.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: ru·di·ment
Pronunciation: 'rüd-&-m&nt
Function: noun
: an incompletely developed organ or part; especially : an organ or part just beginning to develop : ANLAGE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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rudiment ru·di·ment (r&oomacr;'də-mənt)
n.

  1. An imperfectly or incompletely developed organ or part.
  2. Something in an incipient or undeveloped form. Often used in the plural.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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