the elements

elementという単語はまず、”要素”といった訳語が思い浮かびますが、複数形で"the elements"という現れ方をすると、（天候に現れる）自然力、大気の力といった意味、特に暴風雨といった意味で用いられます。自然の脅威、ということです。自然の脅威という意味では、暴風雨に限定されるものではなく、夏の強い直射日光や、真冬の凍てつく寒さなども含むものと思われます。


Our neighbor is an affluent inventor whose latest brainstorm, a feasible umbrella substitute, has been featured in many magazines. （中略）If a person is caught in a sudden rainstorm, he swings the plastic open in the shape of a cross. （中略）Now, equipped with a rigid head covering he can sally forth to face the elements.


If you want to save time, forget the river birch expedition and buy wreath bases made of either grapevine, straw or the standard evergreen. Decide whether your wreath is going to be an indoor decoration or if it needs to be able to withstand the elements, suggests garden writer and Denver Post columnist Rob Proctor.
(Denver Post. 1997.)