Fun"da*men`tal , n.
A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part, as, the fundamentals of the Christian faith.
Fun`da*men"tal (?), a.
[Cf. F. fondamental.]
Pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation. Hence: Essential, as an element, principle, or law; important; original; elementary; as, a fundamental truth; a fundamental axiom.
The fundamental
reasons of this war.
Shak. Some fundamental antithesis in nature.
Whewell. Fundamental bass (Mus.), the root note of
a chord; a bass formed of the roots or
fundamental tones of the chords. -- Fundamental chord
(Mus.), a chord, the lowest tone of which
is its root. -- Fundamental colors, red, green, and violet-blue. See Primary colors, under
Color.
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