Etymologically
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graduatio

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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