rudimentary
Translation
rudimentary, basic, elementary
Examples
He has only a rudimentary knowledge of the subject.
He has only a rudimentary knowledge of the subject.
The shelter was rudimentary, but it kept them dry.
The shelter was rudimentary, but it kept them dry.
Grammar Patterns
((rudimentary)) ((noun)) involving or limited to basic principles He has a rudimentary grasp of physics.
Similar Words
Synonyms: basic, elementary, simple, primitive; Antonyms: advanced, complex, sophisticated
Etymology
From Latin 'rudimentum' meaning 'a first attempt, beginning', from 'rudis' (raw, uncultivated).
Memory Tips
Connect it to 'rude' in its old sense of 'raw' or 'unrefined'. Something rudimentary is in its most basic, raw form.