English → Latin
“elementary” in Latin
The English word elementary itself goes back to Latin elementum, through elementārius.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
elementary
puerilis (such as is suitable for boys): elementarius (once in Sen., of an old man who, instead of advancing, still lingers among the elements of learning, or at the alphabet). Elementary instruction, puerorum elementa: litterae doctrinaque puerilis: prima puerilis institutio: disciplina puerilis: doctrina puerilis: pueritiae disciplina (all Cic.); *institutio elementaria. To give elementary instruction, docere elementa: tradere prima litterarum elementa. An elementary school, *schola, in qua litterarum elementa traduntur: elementary knowledge, *prima litterarum or disciplinae alicujus cognitio.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for elementary?
- The usual Latin words for “elementary” are puerīlis, elementārius. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.