element
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Middle English element, from Old French element, from Latin elementum (“a first principle, element, rudiment”); origin uncertain. Perhaps ultimately from L M N, first three letters of the second half of the Canaanite alphabet, recited by ancient scribes when learning it (in sense compare English ABC(s) (“fundamentals”)). This idea has been criticized though due to the absence of any evidence for use of a half-split in the Latin alphabet itself and the lack of evidence for the use of "el", "em", and "en" as letter names in early Latin. An alternative related idea is that elementum was borrowed into Latin from a Semitic term (probably via Egyptian) halaḥama, which derives from the old South Semitic initial character sequence, h-l-ḥ-m..., though this theory presents some difficulties as well.
The equivalent Greek term στοιχεῖον (stoikheîon, “element, letter”) (introduced in the sense of "element" by Plato), like the Latin elementum, has the dual meaning of "element" and "letter," which does suggest that the semantic connection between these ideas could be quite old.
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
element (plural elements)
- One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.
- Letters are the elements of written language.
- (Can we date this quote?) Benjamin Jowett (Thucydides)
- The simplicity which is so large an element in a noble nature was laughed to scorn.
- (chemistry) Any one of the simplest chemical substances that cannot be decomposed in a chemical reaction or by any chemical means and made up of atoms all having the same number of protons.
- One of the four basic building blocks of matter in theories of ancient philosophers and alchemists: water, earth, fire, and air.
- (law) A required aspect or component of a cause of action. A deed is regarded a violation of law only if each element can be proved.
- (set theory) One of the objects in a set.
- A small part of the whole.
- an element of doubt; an element of the picture
- 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:
- The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.
- (plural only, with "the") Atmospheric forces such as strong winds and rains.
- exposed to the elements
- A place or state of being that an individual or object is best suited to.
- to be in one's element
- (Christianity, usually in the plural) The bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.
- A group of people within a larger group having a particular common characteristic.
- You sometimes find the hooligan element at football matches.
- A component in electrical equipment, often in the form of a coil, having a high resistance, thereby generating heat when a current is passed through it.
- The element in this electric kettle can heat the water in under a minute.
- (computing) One of the conceptual objects in a markup language, usually represented in text by a matching pair of tags.
- 2011, Richard Wagner, Creating Web Pages All-in-One For Dummies
- The div element was introduced into HTML as a solution to the layout problem.
- 2011, Richard Wagner, Creating Web Pages All-in-One For Dummies
SynonymsEdit
- (in chemistry): chemical element
- (in set theory): member
HyponymsEdit
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
simplest or essential part or principle of anything
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chemistry: simplest chemical substance
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alchemy: one of the four basic building blocks
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something small
atmospheric forces
place or state of being that an individual or object is better suited towards
law: component of a cause of action
set theory: object in a set
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group of people with a common characteristic
heating element
computing: conceptual object in a markup language
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
See alsoEdit
VerbEdit
element (third-person singular simple present elements, present participle elementing, simple past and past participle elemented)
- (obsolete) To compound of elements.
- 1661, Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist:
- elemented bodies
- 1681, Maunyngham, Disc., page 89:
- thou art elemented and organed
- 1661, Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist:
- (obsolete) To constitute and be the elements of.
- (Can we date this quote?), Donne, Poems, page 41:
- those things which elemented [love]
- 1658, Izaak Walton, Life of Donne:
- His very soul was elemented of nothing but sadness.
- (Can we date this quote?), Donne, Poems, page 41:
Related termsEdit
Further readingEdit
- element in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- element in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
ReferencesEdit
- Lehmann, R.G. (2011). "27-30-22-26 - How many letters needs an alphabet?". In de Voogt, A.; Quack, J.F. The Idea of Writing: Writing Across Borders. Brill. pp. 15–16, note 8.
AnagramsEdit
CatalanEdit
Crimean TatarEdit
EtymologyEdit
NounEdit
element
- element.
DeclensionEdit
Declension of element
| nominative | element |
|---|---|
| genitive | elementniñ |
| dative | elementke |
| accusative | elementni |
| locative | elementte |
| ablative | elementten |
ReferencesEdit
- Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary][1], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN
DanishEdit
NounEdit
element n (singular definite elementet, plural indefinite elementer)
DeclensionEdit
Declension of element
| neuter gender |
Singular | Plural | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | |
| nominative | element | elementet | elementer | elementerne |
| genitive | elements | elementets | elementers | elementernes |
ReferencesEdit
- “element” in Den Danske Ordbog
DutchEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Old French element, from Latin elementum (“a first principle, element, rudiment”); origin uncertain. Perhaps ultimately from L M N, first three letters of the second half of the Canaanite alphabet, recited by ancient scribes when learning it (in sense compare English ABC(s) (“fundamentals”)).
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
element n (plural elementen, diminutive elementje n)
AnagramsEdit
Norwegian BokmålEdit
EtymologyEdit
NounEdit
element n (definite singular elementet, indefinite plural element or elementer, definite plural elementa or elementene)
- an element
ReferencesEdit
- “element” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
Norwegian NynorskEdit
EtymologyEdit
NounEdit
element n (definite singular elementet, indefinite plural element, definite plural elementa)
- an element
ReferencesEdit
- “element” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
PolishEdit
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
element m inan
- element (component, piece of a larger whole)
- (derogatory, dated) element (group of people)
- Wieczorami w knajpie zbierał się podejrzany element.
- In the evenings, suspicious element congregated in the pub.
- Wieczorami w knajpie zbierał się podejrzany element.
DeclensionEdit
declension of element
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | element | elementy |
| genitive | elementu | elementów |
| dative | elementowi | elementom |
| accusative | element | elementy |
| instrumental | elementem | elementami |
| locative | elemencie | elementach |
| vocative | elemencie | elementy |
Serbo-CroatianEdit
Alternative formsEdit
- (Bosnian, Serbian): elèmenat
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
elèment m (Cyrillic spelling елѐмент)
DeclensionEdit
Declension of element
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | elèment | elementi |
| genitive | elementa | elèmenātā |
| dative | elementu | elementima |
| accusative | element | elemente |
| vocative | elemente | elementi |
| locative | elementu | elementima |
| instrumental | elementom | elementima |
SwedishEdit
PronunciationEdit
Audio (file)
NounEdit
element n
- element; basic building block of matter in ancient philosophy
- element; a place or state of being that an individual or object is better suited towards
- elements; forces of weather
- element; an object in a set
- (mathematics) element of a matrix
- heating element, radiator
- (computing) element; object in markup language
DeclensionEdit
| Declension of element | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | |||
| Indefinite | Definite | Indefinite | Definite | |
| Nominative | element | elementet | element | elementen |
| Genitive | elements | elementets | elements | elementens |
Related termsEdit
TurkishEdit
EtymologyEdit
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
element (definite accusative elementi, plural elementler)
DeclensionEdit
| Inflection | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | element | |
| Definite accusative | elementi | |
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | element | elementler |
| Definite accusative | elementi | elementleri |
| Dative | elemente | elementlere |
| Locative | elementte | elementlerde |
| Ablative | elementten | elementlerden |
| Genitive | elementin | elementlerin |