Elemental means belonging to the basic forces of nature. Elemental power, an elemental force, elemental fear.
It suits storms, seas and the oldest human feelings — an elemental fear is one below reasoning. In chemistry it means in the form of a pure element: elemental sulphur, elemental iron, which is a precise technical use. In fantasy, an elemental is a spirit of one of the classical four. Note element; and that the classical four were earth, air, fire and water.
1adjectiveelementalBelonging to the basic forces of nature.
“Far from land, the sailors faced the elemental power of wind and waves.”
2adjectiveformIn the form of a pure element.
“Gold is one of the few metals that can be found lying in rivers in elemental form.”
elemental is a quality of basic nature.
Medieval Latin elementalis comes from elementum, an element, of uncertain origin — possibly from the letters L, M, N as a name for the alphabet, and so for first principles.
Medieval Latin
elementālis
Middle English
elementall
English, today
elemental
From Middle English elementall, from Medieval Latin elementālis; compare Old French elementel. by surface analysis, element + -al.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Word Building