Rudiment

n. [Fr. rudiment, Sp. & It. rudimento, Lat. rudimentum, from rudis, unwrought, ignorant, rude.]

1Sense 1. That which is unformed or undeveloped; the principle which lies at the bottom of any development; unfinished beginnings.

But I will bring thee where thou shalt quit Those rudiments, and see before thine eyes The monarchies of the earth. Milton.

The single leaf is the rudiment of beauty in landscape. I. Taylor.

2Sense 2. Hence, an element or first principle of any art or science; the beginnings of any branch of knowledge.

This boy is forest-born, And hath been tutored in the rudiments Of many desperate studies. Shak.

There he shall first lay down the rudiments Of his great warfare. Milton.

3Sense 3. (Nat. Hist.) An imperfect organ, or one which is never fully formed.