elemental

(ĕl'ə-mĕn'tl)
adj.

1. Of, relating to, or being an element.
2. 1. Fundamental or essential; basic.
   2. Of or relating to fundamentals; elementary.
   3. Constituting an integral part; inborn.
3. Of such character as to resemble a force of nature in power or effect: elemental violence.

n.
In certain occult systems, an inhabitant of one of the four elements, especially any of the beings described by Paracelsus as intermediate in corporeality between humans and spirits.

elementally el'e·men'tal·ly adv.

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Elemental refers primarily to the forces of nature and in particular to the ancient belief in the 'four elements' of earth, water, air, and fire, as in elemental fire / elemental forces / elemental spirits / etc. Elementary, on the other hand, means 'rudimentary, introductory', as in elementary school / elementary mathematics / etc. In modern physics, elementary means 'not able to be decomposed', as in elementary particle.

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adjective

1. Of or being an irreducible element: basic, elementary, essential, fundamental, primitive, ultimate, underlying. See surface/depth.
2. Forming an essential element, as arising from the basic structure of an individual: built-in, congenital, connatural, constitutional, inborn, inbred, indigenous, indwelling, ingrained, inherent, innate, intrinsic, native, natural. See be, native/foreign, start/end.

A term usually used synonymously with elementary spirits, but sometimes given a special connotation by Spiritualists to indicate discarnate entities of a malicious nature. Theosophists use the word elemental to denote the "astral remains" or "shell" of one who has lived an evil life on Earth and who is loath to leave the scene of his pleasures. With some occultists, again, elemental really signifies a subhuman being, probably identical to an elementary spirit, but of a mental and moral status considerably lower than that of a human.

Sources:

Lévi, Éliphas. Transcendental Magic. London: Redway, 1896. Reprint, New York: Samuel Weiser, 1970.

IN BRIEF: Basic and powerful. Also: Relating to parts that are essential.

Hurricanes, blizzards, and thunderstorms are examples of the many powerful, elemental forces of nature.

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Emanating from or pertaining to elements.

• e. diet — see elemental diet.

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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - vedrørende elementerne, natur-, vedr. grundstof, elementær, grundlæggende
n. - elementarånd

Nederlands (Dutch)
essentieel, elementair, inherent, van de, of lijkend op, de natuurkrachten

Français (French)
adj. - des éléments, élémentaire, (Chim, Phys) élémentaire, essentiel, fondamental, primitif
n. - esprit

Deutsch (German)
adj. - elementar
n. - Elementar-

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - στοιχειώδης, στοιχειακός

Italiano (Italian)
essenziale

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - simples, elementar, poderoso

Русский (Russian)
стихийный, природный, основной, фундаментальный, начальный, элементарный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - esencial, elemental, básico
n. - espíritu, aparición

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - grundläggande, enkel

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
元素的, 基本的, 基本原理

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 元素的, 基本的
n. - 基本原理

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 원소의, 기본적인, 4대요소의, 절대한, 초보의
n. - 4대 정령의 하나

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 自然の力による, すさまじい, 基本的要素の, 元素の, 基本的な, 自然力の

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) عنصري, جوهري‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮של איתני הטבע, יסודי‬
n. - ‮ישות או כוח הנחשבים להיחשף ע"י פולחן‬

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