different between elementary vs harmless

English

Alternative forms

• elementar (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin element?rius (“elementary”), from elementum (“one of the four elements of antiquity; fundamentals”) + -?rius (adjective-forming suffix). Cognate with French élémentaire.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /(?)?l???m?nt(?)??/
• (General American) enPR: ?l'?-m?n?t?-r?, -tr?, IPA^(key): /??l???m?nt(?)?i/
• Rhymes: -?nt??i, -?nt?i
• Hyphenation: el?e?men?ta?ry

Adjective

elementary (comparative more elementary, superlative most elementary)

1. Relating to the basic, essential or fundamental part of something.
2. Relating to an elementary school.
3. (physics) Relating to a subatomic particle.
4. (archaic) Sublunary; not celestial; belonging to the sublunary sphere, to which the four classical elements (earth, air, fire and water) were confined; composed of or pertaining to these four elements.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

elementary (plural elementaries)

1. An elementary school
2. (mythology, mysticism) A supernatural being which is associated with the elements.

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “elementary”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN

English

Etymology

From Middle English harmles, from Old English *hearml?as, from Proto-Germanic *harmalausaz (“without harm; harmless”), equivalent to harm +? -less.

Cognate with German harmlos (“harmless”), Danish harmløs (“harlmess”), Swedish harmlös (“harmless”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?h??ml?s/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?h??ml?s/

Adjective

harmless (comparative more harmless, superlative most harmless)

1. Incapable of causing harm or danger; safe.
2. Not intended to harm; inoffensive.
3. (obsolete) Unharmed.

Synonyms

• benign
• innocent
• innocuous
• undamaging

Antonyms

• harmful

Derived terms

• harmlessly
• harmlessness

Translations