Elements

(ěl'e-mentz.) [L. element a, first principles.] Ina figurative sense, the rudiments, principles, or data of any art or science; as, the Elements of Euclid.(Theol.) The bread and wine prepared for the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.-(Astron.) The quantities whose determination defines the path of a planet or other celestial body, and enables us to compute the place of such body at any past or future epoch.— (Chem.) The simple component ingredients of bodies under whatever forms they exist. The old philosophers a umed four E.-fire, air, water, and earth-but it is fully demonstrated by the researches of modern science that neither air, water, nor earth are E., for they can be decomposed into simple ingredients, and fire is a combination of light and heat. It is not pretended that any of the substances now called E. are absolutely sim. ple, that is, contain only one kind of matter; but only that hitherto they have not been decomposed. A list of the E. at present known will be found under EQUIVALENTS. [s. 324]