abecedary

A1B3E1C3E1D2A1R1Y4
UK/ˌeɪ.biːˈsiː.də.ɹi/US/ˌeɪ.biˈsi.dɚ.i/US/ˌeɪ.biˈsi.də.ɹi/

noun

The alphabet, written out in a teaching book, or carved on a wall; a primer; abecedarium.

OriginMiddle English abscedary ← Medieval Latin abecedārium ← Late Latin abecedārius →
First used 1350 to 1470Scrabble 17
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Meanings

abecedary1

nounabecedary (plural abecedaries)

plural abecedaries

  1. rareThe alphabet, written out in a teaching book, or carved on a wall; a primer; abecedarium.First known use 1350 to 1470

    I finish writing the alphabet on both napkins. There's room for more abecedaries, but […]

    2014 July 18, Caity Weaver, “My 14-Hour Search for the End of TGI Friday's Endless Appetizers”, in Gawker, archived from the original on 16 May 2022
  2. One that teaches or learns the alphabet or the fundamentals of any subject; abecedarian.First known use late 16ᵗʰ century

abecedary2

adjectiveabecedary (not comparable)
  1. not comparableReferring to the alphabet; alphabetical; related to or resembling an abecedarius; abecedarian.First known use First attested in 1580.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
abecedarium

Origin

abecedary · noun

  1. Late Latinabecedārius“of the alphabet”
  2. Medieval Latinabecedārium“alphabet, ABC primer”
  3. Middle Englishabscedary
  4. Englishabecedary

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.

More words from Middle English, Medieval Latin, Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

abecedary · adjective

  1. Late Latinabecedārius
  2. Englishabecedary

From Late Latin abecedārius. Doublet of abecedarius.

More words from Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan abecedari, beceroles
  • abecedarithe alphabet
  • becerolesthe alphabet
Dutch alfabet, abc
  • alfabetthe alphabet
  • abcthe alphabet
Portuguese abecedário
  • abecedáriothe alphabet
Romanian alfabet
  • alfabetthe alphabet
Spanish abecedario
  • abecedariothe alphabet
Urdu حُرُوْفِ اَبْجَد, حُرُوْفِ اَلِف
  • حُرُوْفِ اَبْجَد (ḥurūf-e abjad)the alphabet
  • حُرُوْفِ اَلِف (ḥurūf-e alif)the alphabet
Cite this entry
APA

abecedary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abecedary

MLA

“abecedary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abecedary. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abecedary,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abecedary.

Source: abecedary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.