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graduatus

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word graduatus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1361
Ultimate origin
Latin gradus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin graduatus
English graduate
From the same root
English undergraduate ← graduate

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɡra.duˈaː.tʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ɡra.duˈaː.tus][1]

Forms

graduātus (feminine graduāta, neuter graduātum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

Used as an adjective, it is the perfect passive participle from Latin graduō (“to take a degree”),[1][2] which the DMLBS heads as the deponent ⟨graduārī⟩;[3] the verb is from gradus (“step, degree”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DMLBS's earliest dated example, from 1361, uses it as a noun: no graduatus is to read.[3]

Semantic evolution

It described someone who had taken a university degree, in such phrases as the graduated scholars of Oxford or a man graduated in both laws, and as a noun meant a graduate.[3][4] The Bohemian dictionary also has it for a man ordained priest,[5] and Polish sources use it of coins assayed to the legal standard.[4] English graduate comes from it.[2]

Timeline

  • 1361 – A statute uses graduatus as a noun.[3]
  • 1378 – Köbler's first record, from Latham.[6]
  • 1399 – A patent roll speaks of the graduated scholars of the University of Oxford.[3]
  • 1400 – A Kraków university document has magistri graduati.[4]
  • early 15th century – English graduate is recorded, for one who holds a degree.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) Having a university degree, graduated.[3][4][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin, of coins) Assayed, of standard fineness.[4]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A graduate.[3][5]
  2. (Medieval Latin) One ordained priest.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
  4. ^ a b c d e Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  5. ^ a b c Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
  6. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Graduatus.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/graduatus. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·