June 2006

Just Foolin' Around

The season of graduation and commencement sent plenty of folks looking up the terms alma mater and baccalaureate last month, and it reminded us how many of our education terms have an etymological link to Latin.

Here are a few favorites, together with the translation of the word's Latin ancestor. For a full list, choose the Unabridged as your reference, click on Advanced Search, type "school" in the Definition field and "Latin" in the Etymology field, then click Search.

academy from the name of the gymnasium near Athens where Plato taught

alma mater from Latin phrase meaning "fostering mother"

alumna, alumnus, from Latin word for "pupil, nursling"

campus from Latin word for "plain; field"

college from Latin word for "society"

cum laude from Latin phrase meaning "with praise"

curriculum from Late Latin word for "course of a year"

dean from Late Latin word for "chief of ten"

degree, grade, graduate from Latin word for "step; grade"

educate from Latin word for "to rear; bring up; educate"

magna cum laude from Latin phrase meaning "with great praise"

pedagogue from Latin word meaning "leader of children"

preceptor from Latin word meaning "teacher; instructor"

professor from Latin word meaning "one that professes Christianity; public teacher; teacher"

scholar, scholastic from Latin word for "school"

student from Latin word for "to be eager; be diligent; study"

summa cum laude from Latin phrase meaning "with highest praise"


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