semester English · revision 10442

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1826|origins=de Semester|origins=la semestris}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɪˈmɛstɚ/; /sɪˈmɛstə/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|de|Semester|t=half-year course at a university]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin sēmēstris, of six months, half-yearly, in cursus sēmēstris, a course of six months,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from sex, six (see [[six]]), and mēnsis, month (see [[moon]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A period of six months, especially a half-year course in a German university: 1826 in Merriam-Webster, 1827 in Barnhart, Etymonline and the OED.^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Both the word and the idea came from German universities, and spread to universities in the United States,^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) where a semester is one of two divisions of the academic year of 15 to 18 weeks.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1826 – first known use.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1827 – a half-year course.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Either of two divisions of the academic year, usually of 15 to 18 weeks.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # In German universities, a session of six months.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[semestral]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[trimester]]

+ * [[semiannual]]

+ * [[six]]

+ * [[month]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}