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rudiment

[ roo-duh-muhnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Usually rudiments.
1. the elements or first principles of a subject:
  the rudiments of grammar.
2. a mere beginning, first slight appearance, or undeveloped or imperfect form of something:
  the rudiments of a plan.
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.

rudiment

/ ˈ��ː��ɪ��ə�Գ� /

noun

often plural the first principles or elementary stages of a subject
often plural a partially developed version of something
biology an organ or part in its earliest recognizable form, esp one in an embryonic or vestigial state

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Word History and Origins

Origin of rudiment¹

1540–50; < Latin ��ܻ�ī��Գٳܳ� early training, first experience, initial stage, equivalent to rudi ( s ) unformed, rough ( rude ) + -mentum -ment ( -ī- for -i- after verbal derivatives)

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Word History and Origins

Origin of rudiment¹

C16: from Latin ��ܻ�ī��Գٳܳ� a beginning, from rudis unformed; see rude

��ü��𾱳��rudimentary

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