abecedary

abecedary · noun¹

1. Late Latin · derived fromabecedārius“of the alphabet”
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromabecedārium“alphabet, ABC primer”
3. Middle English · inherited fromabscedary
4. English todayabecedary

From Middle English abscedary, from Medieval Latin abecedārium (“alphabet, ABC primer”), from Late Latin abecedārius (“of the alphabet”), formed from the first four letters of the Latin alphabet + -ārius. Doublet of abecedarium.

abecedary · adjective²

1. Late Latin · borrowed fromabecedārius
2. English todayabecedary

From Late Latin abecedārius. Doublet of abecedarius.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1350 to 1470 The alphabet, written out in a teaching book, or carved on a wall; a primer; abecedarium.
• from late 16ᵗʰ century One that teaches or learns the alphabet or the fundamentals of any subject; abecedarian.
• First attested in 1580. Referring to the alphabet; alphabetical; related to or resembling an abecedarius; abecedarian.