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A rare metallic element. It occurs quite widely, but in small quantities, and always combined. It is isolated as a soft yellowish white metal, analogous to potassium in most of its properties. Symbol Rb. Atomic weight, 85.2.

Hence, an element or first principle of any art or science; a beginning of any knowledge; a first step. 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.

Of or pertaining to rudiments; consisting in first principles; elementary; initial; as, rudimental essays.

A rare element of the light platinum group, found associated with platinum ores, and isolated as a hard, brittle steel-gray metal which is very infusible. Symbol Ru. Atomic weight 103.5. Specific gravity 12.26. See Platinum metals, under Platinum.

ents; of the nature of a sacrament; sacredly or solemny binding; as, sacramental rites or elements.

ave presumed, An earthly guest . . . With like safety guided down, Return me to my native element. Milton.

A rare metallic element of doubtful identity.

which refers all things to soul and a rootless germ called prakriti, consisting of three elements, goodness, passion, and darkness. Whitworth.

Fleshy; -- applied to the minute stryctural elements, called sarcous elements, or sarcous disks, of which striated muscular fiber is composed.

A rare metallic element of the boron group, whose existence was predicated under the provisional name ekaboron by means of the periodic law, and subsequently discovered by spectrum analysis in certain rare Scandinavian minerals (euxenite and gadolinite). It has not yet been isolated. Symbol Sc. Atomic weight 44…

o render an equivalent; to make compensation. Does not the earth quit scores with all the elements in the noble fruits that issue from it South.

d other matters of civil policy should be managed without the introduction of a religious element.

ved from, or containing, selenium; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a higher valence as contrasted with selenious compounds.

ining to, or containing, selenium; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a lower valence as contrasted with selenic compounds.

A nonmetallic element of the sulphur group, and analogous to sulphur in its compounds. It is found in small quantities with sulphur and some sulphur ores, and obtained in the free state as a dark reddish powder or crystalline mass, or as a dark metallic- looking substance. It exhibits under the action of light a remark…

An element possessing metallic properties in an inferior degree and not malleable, as arsenic, antimony, bismuth, molybdenum, uranium, etc. [Obs.]

An element which forms no part of the original root; -- opposed to radical.

of the substance to the name of which it is prefixed are combined with two of some other element or radical; as, sesquibromide, sesquicarbonate, sesquichloride, sesquioxide.

hissing sound; uttered with a hissing sound; hissing; as, s, z, sh, and zh, are sibilant elementary sounds. -- n.

The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence.