*rudi*

n.; pl. Crudities [ L. cruditas, fr. crudus: cf. F. crudité. See Crude. ] 1. The condition of being crude; rawness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is in a crude or undigested state; hence, superficial, undigested views, not reduced to order or form. “Crudities in the stomach.” Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. erudire. ] To instruct; to educate; to teach. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The skillful goddess there erudiates these
In all she did. Fanshawe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. eruditus, p. p. of erudire to free from rudeness, to polish, instruct; e out + rudis rude: cf. F. érudit. See Rude. ] Characterized by extensive reading or knowledge; well instructed; learned. “A most erudite prince.” Sir T. More. “Erudite . . . theology.” I. Taylor. -- er"u*dite`ly, adv. -- er"u*dite`ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. profound knowledge.
Syn. -- erudition, learnedness, learning, scholarship. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. eruditio: cf. F. érudition. ] The act of instructing; the result of thorough instruction; the state of being erudite or learned; the acquisitions gained by extensive reading or study; particularly, learning in literature or criticism, as distinct from the sciences; scholarship. [ 1913 Webster ]

The management of a young lady's person is not be overlooked, but the erudition of her mind is much more to be regarded. Steele. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gay young gentleman whose erudition sat so easily upon him. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Literature; learning. See Literature. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the leeches. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. hirudo, hirudinis, a leech. ] (Zool.) An order of Annelida, including the leeches; -- called also Hirudinei. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any of a number of carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end.
Syn. -- leech, bloodsucker. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. ineruditus. See In- not, and Erudite. ] Not erudite; unlearned; ignorant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a prude; very formal, precise, or reserved; affectedly severe in virtue; as, a prudish woman; prudish manners. [ 1913 Webster ]

A formal lecture, spoke with prudish face. Garrick. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a prudish manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. rudimentum, fr. rudis unwrought, ignorant, rude: cf. F. rudiment. See Rude. ] 1. That which is unformed or undeveloped; the principle which lies at the bottom of any development; an unfinished beginning. [ 1913 Webster ]

but I will bring thee where thou soon shalt quit
Those rudiments, and see before thine eyes
The monarchies of the earth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

the single leaf is the rudiment of beauty in landscape. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, an element or first principle of any art or science; a beginning of any knowledge; a first step. [ 1913 Webster ]

This boy is forest-born,
And hath been tutored in the rudiments
of many desperate studies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

There he shall first lay down the rudiments
Of his great warfare. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) An imperfect organ or part, or one which is never developed. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To furnish with first principles or rules; to insrtuct in the rudiments. Gayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Rudimentary. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. rudimentaire. ] 1. Of or pertaining to rudiments; consisting in first principles; elementary; initial; as, rudimental essays. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Very imperfectly developed; in an early stage of development; embryonic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Somewhat rude. Foote. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. rudis rough. ] (Paleon.) An extinct order or suborder of bivalve mollusks characteristic of the Cretaceous period; -- called also Rudista. See Illust. under Hippurite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ruditas ignorance, fr. rudis rude, illiterate. ] Rudeness; ignorance. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]