rudi-, rud- +

1. Having or showing great knowledge gained from study and reading.
2. Having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned.
3. Having or showing profound knowledge.

A person might like to be erudite but should hesitate to be rude. This preference is supported by the etymological relationship between erudite and rude.

Erudite comes from the Latin adjective eruditus, “learned, well-instructed”; from the past participle of the verb erudire, “to educate, train”.

The verb is in turn formed from the prefix ex–, “out, out of”, and the adjective rudis, “untaught, untrained”, the source of the English word rude.

One of the first known English word usages of erudite is first recorded in a work possibly written before 1425 with the meanings of “instructed, learned”.

Erudite meaning “learned” is supposed to have become rare except in sarcastic use during the latter part of the 19th century, but the word apparently has been currently restored to a favorable usage.

From 1432, Latin eruditus, past participle of erudire "to instruct", from ex- "out" plus rudis, "unskilled, rude".

With erudition; in an erudite manner; for example, "He talked eruditely about computer technology."

Profound, scholarly knowledge; enlightenment, education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge.

Learning, leadership, fellowship.

Motto of Indian River Community College, Ft. Pierce, Florida, USA.

Learning and benefit for all.

Motto of Isothermal Community College, Spindale, North Carolina, USA.

Knowledge acquired through study and reading: "He was a reporter with great erudition despite the fact that he never completed his high school education."

Someone who devotes himself/herself to erudition or training.

Not erudite; unlearned, uninstructed.

Lacking in erudition; unlearned condition.

Someone who is educated in all subjects, or who possesses universal knowledge.

1. Socially incorrect in behavior; discourteous or impolite, especially in a deliberate way; such as, a rude reply.
2. Lacking civility or good manners; rough in manners or behavior; unmannerly; uncouth.
3. A reference to people, lacking in refinement or grace.
4. Belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness; ; such as, a rude design.

For example, "The crude weapons and rude agricultural tools of early mankind".

5. Without culture, learning, or refinement: "He thought they were rude, illiterate peasants; of a primitive simplicity."

1. In an impolite manner: "He treated his sister impolitely."
2. Impolitely, discourteously, rudely, showing bad manners, ill-mannered, rude, unmannered, unmannerly.

1. Discourtesy, rudeness, manner, personal manner: "Her rudeness was expressed in a manner that was rude and insulting."
2. Crudeness, crudity, primitiveness, primitivism, rudeness, wild, natural state, state of nature: "Her new residence was in a wild or unrefined condition."

1. The elements or first principles of a subject; as in the rudiments of grammar.
2. Those points that are first taught to, or acquired by, someone beginning the study or practice of a branch of knowledge, art, etc.
3. A mere beginning, first slight appearance, or undeveloped or imperfect form of something; the rudiments of a plan.
4. The imperfect beginnings of some (material or immaterial) thing; those parts that are the foundation of later growth or development.
5. In biology, an organ or part which is incompletely developed in size or structure; such as, something that is in an embryonic stage, arrested in growth, or with no functional activity.

1. Pertaining to rudiments or first principles; elementary; such as a rudimentary knowledge of English.
2. Of the nature of a rudiment; undeveloped or vestigial (visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence).
3. Primitive.