el·e·men·tal·ism \ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷əlˌizəm\noun (-s) : a tendency to postulate a separation into independent entities or elements of things (as mind and body, space and time) that can be only verbally so separated • el·e·men·tal·is·tic\| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷əl|istik\adjective • el·e·men·tal·is·ti·cal·ly\-tə̇k(ə)lē, -tēk-, -li\adverb