n. [ OE. fundament, fundement, fondement, OF. fundement, fondement, F. fondement, fr. L. fundamentum foundation, fr. fundare to lay the bottom, to found, fr. fundus bottom. See Fund. ]
n. A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part,
a. [ Cf. F. fondamental. ] Pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation.
The fundamental reasons of this war. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Some fundamental antithesis in nature. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]
Fundamental bass (Mus.),
Fundamental chord (Mus.),
Fundamental colors,
n.
n. a supporter of fundamentalism. [ WordNet 1.5 ]
adv. Primarily; originally; essentially; radically; at the foundation; in origin or constituents. “Fundamentally defective.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]