rŭdīmentum (noun N) : 1. rudis
* A first attempt, trial, or essay; a beginning, commencement in any thing (not ante-Aug.; cf. tirocinium).
* Most usual as milit. t. t.: militare,Liv. 21, 3; plur.: rudimentis militiae imbutus,the elements,Vell. 2, 129, 2: dura belli,Verg. A. 11, 157: rudimenta adulescentiae ponere, to lay down the rudiments, complete the first beginnings, pass one's novitiate, Liv. 31, 11 fin.; cf.: sub militiā patris tirocinii rudimenta deposuit,Just. 9, 1, 8.
* In other things: rudimentum primum puerilis regni,Liv. 1, 3; cf. Quint. 1, 8, 15: prima rhetorices rudimenta,the first principles, rudiments,id. 2, 5, 1; cf. Suet. Aug. 64: vidi Protogenis rudimenta cum ipsius naturae veritate certantia,Petr. 83, 1: civilium officiorum rudimentis regem Archelaum defendit,Suet. Tib. 8: ponere,id. Ner. 22: prima pueritiae rudimenta deponere,Just. 7, 5, 3 (cf. supra, I.).