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graduatio

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word graduatio

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1411
Ultimate origin
Latin gradus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin gradus
Italian grado
German Grad
Latin graduatio
From the same root
Latin gradalis ← gradus
Latin gradatim ← gradus

Forms

graduātiō f (genitive graduātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin gradus (“step; academic degree”), in its medieval academic sense,[2][3] beside the verb graduō (“to take or confer a degree”).[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DMLBS's earliest quotation is from John Wycliffe's treatise on simony, for academic graduation; its first dated one is from Oxford in 1411.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant the granting or taking of an academic degree, or graduate status;[2][4] Du Cange cites a life of Saint Stanislaus that condemns the expense of promotions to degrees.[4] In Poland it also meant a rank in the church hierarchy.[5] English graduation is recorded from the early 15th century.[6]

Timeline

  • 1411 – A text among the church councils speaks of graduate status at the University of Oxford.[2]
  • 1423 – An Oxford letter attests a scholar's study and graduation in canon law.[2]
  • 1447 – A Polish letter uses it of ecclesiastical rank.[5]
  • 1467 – A letter in Długosz's works complains of the expense of graduations.[5]
  • early 15th century – English graduation is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) Graduation, the taking or granting of an academic degree; graduate status.[2][4][5]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A rank in the church hierarchy.[5]

Usage notes

The TLL rejects a reading graduatio in Cassiodorus, where the better manuscripts have gratulatio.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  5. ^ a b c d e Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Cite this entry

“Graduatio.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/graduatio. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·