RUDIMENT

rudiment

(noun) the remains of a body part that was functional at an earlier stage of life; “Meckel’s diverticulum is the rudiment of the embryonic yolk sac”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

rudiment (plural rudiments)

(often in the plural) A fundamental principle or skill, especially in a field of learning.

(often in the plural) Something in an undeveloped form.

(biology) A body part that no longer has a function

(music) In percussion, one of a selection of basic drum patterns learned as an exercise.

Hypernyms

• (biology): vestigiality

Verb

rudiment (third-person singular simple present rudiments, present participle rudimenting, simple past and past participle rudimented)

(transitive) To ground; to settle in first principles.

Anagrams

• unmitred

Source: Wiktionary

Ru"di*ment, n. Etym: [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.)

Definition: An imperfect organ or part, or one which is never developed.

Ru"di*ment, v. t.

Definition: To furnish with first principles or rules; to insrtuct in the rudiments. Gayton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition