abecedary

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌeɪ.biːˈsiː.də.ɹi/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌeɪ.biˈsi.dɚ.i/, /ˌeɪ.biˈsi.də.ɹi/

From Middle English abscedary, from Medieval Latin abecedārium (“alphabet, ABC primer”), from Late Latin abecedārius (“of the alphabet”), formed from the first four letters of the Latin alphabet + -ārius.^[1] Doublet of abecedarium.

abecedary (plural abecedaries)

1. (rare) The alphabet, written out in a teaching book, or carved on a wall; a primer; abecedarium. [from 1350 to 1470]^[1]
   • 2014 July 18, Caity Weaver, “My 14-Hour Search for the End of TGI Friday's Endless Appetizers”, in Gawker‎^[1], archived from the original on 16 May 2022:

     I finish writing the alphabet on both napkins. There's room for more abecedaries, but […]

2. One that teaches or learns the alphabet or the fundamentals of any subject; abecedarian. [from late 16^th century]^[1]

From Late Latin abecedārius.^[2] Doublet of abecedarius.

abecedary (not comparable)

1. Referring to the alphabet; alphabetical; related to or resembling an abecedarius; abecedarian. [First attested in 1580.]^[2]