abecedary

1 of 2

noun

abe·​ce·​da·​ry

ˌā(ˌ)bēˈsēdərē

plural -es

1

: abecedarium

2

: abecedarian

abecedary

2 of 2

adjective

: abecedarian

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English abscedary, borrowed from Medieval Latin abecedārium "alphabet, primer," derived from neuter of Late Latin abecedārius "alphabetical," from the names of the letters a + b + c + d + Latin -ārius -ary entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1580, in the meaning defined above

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