Abecedarium
/ˌeɪ.biː.siːˈdɛər.i.əm/noun
An alphabet primer or a text arranged in alphabetical order, especially one used for teaching.
Did you know?An abecedarium is named by reciting the alphabet’s first letters in order, a reminder that writing systems were once treated almost like sacred sequences to memorize aloud.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
alpha beta
“The first two names of the Greek alphabet”
Late Latin
Latin
abecedarium
“A sequence or primer formed from the names of the first letters of the alphabet”
Medieval Latin
Latin
abecedarium
“An alphabetic primer or instructional text”
14th Century
English
abecedary
“An alphabet book or primer”
Modern English
English
abecedarium
“A work arranged in alphabetical order or an alphabet primer”