# abecedary

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abecedary
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a list of letters in the order of the alphabet. It is an old word for something that teaches you how to read.

For teachers: a list of letters in alphabetical order; a primer or elementary treatise on reading. Often used in historical or literary contexts to describe early educational texts.

## Examples

- The old book was a simple abecedary for young children.
- Scholars discovered a fragment of an abecedary written in the local script on a clay tablet.
- The manuscript served as both an abecedary and a rudimentary grammar guide, illustrating the transition from basic literacy to more complex linguistic study in the region.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.