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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.