Etymologically
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erudite

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈɛɹ.ʊ.daɪt/ (UK); /ˈɛɹ.(j)u.daɪt/, /ˈɛɹ.(j)ə.daɪt/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English erudit,[2][3] from Latin ērudītus (“learned, well-instructed”),[2][4][5][3][6] the past participle of ērudīre “to instruct, polish”,[2][4][5][3] literally “to bring out of the rough”,[5] from ē- “out” and rudis “rough, untaught”.[2][4][5][3][6] It is therefore related to rude.[2][4][5][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Instructed, learned (probably before 1425).[2][4][5]

Semantic evolution

The OED marks the sense “trained, well-instructed” as obsolete or archaic[7] and the sense “learned” as somewhat rare except in sarcastic use.[7] The American Heritage Dictionary notes that this sarcastic period belonged mainly to the late 19th century and that the word has since been restored to favour.[2] From 1533 it was also applied to writings characterized by learning.[7]

Timeline

  • about 1400 – erudition, instruction.[4]
  • probably before 1425 – learned.[2][4]
  • 1529 – eruditely.[7]
  • 1530 – erudition in the sense of scholarship.[4]
  • 1533 – of writings, showing learning.[7]
  • 1865 – noun, a scholar, rare.[7]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Having or showing great knowledge, especially from books; learned or scholarly.

Word family

  • eruditely
  • eruditeness
  • erudition
  • rude
  • rudiment

Usage notes

Random House gives educated, knowledgeable, wise and sapient as synonyms.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  5. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press