ˈɡræmə n. 1 a
the study or rules of a language's inflections or
other means of
showing the
relation between words, including
its phonetic system. b a
body of
form and usages in a specified
language (Latin grammar). 2 a person's
manner or
quality of
observance or
application of the rules of grammar (bad grammar). 3 a
book on grammar. 4 the elements or rudiments of an art or
science. 5
Brit. colloq. = grammar school. øgrammar school 1 Brit.
esp.
hist. a
selective State secondary school
with a
mainly academic curriculum. 2 Brit. hist. a school founded in or
before the 16th c.
for teaching Latin, later becoming a secondary school teaching academic subjects. 3 US a school
intermediate between
primary and
high school. øøgrammarless adj. [ME f. AF gramere, OF gramaire f. L grammatica f. Gk grammatike (tekhne) (art) of letters f. gramma -atos
letter of the alphabet]