professor English · revision 2837

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1387, Trevisa|origins=la profiteor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /prəˈfes.ə/, US /prəˈfes.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|professour]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|professeur]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly [[bor|la|professor|t=one who professes to be expert in an art or science; teacher of the highest rank]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) an agent noun from [[m|la|profitērī|t=to lay claim to, declare openly]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[profess]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who teaches a branch of knowledge: 1387 in Trevisa's translation of Higden's ''Polychronicon'',^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The OED's first example of a public teacher of the highest rank in a university is from about 1380.^(OED 1989) In Late Latin a professor was also one who professes Christianity.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Alongside the teacher, Middle English had the professor as a professed member of a religious order (about 1420),^(OED 1989) and one who openly declares his beliefs in 1538.^(OED 1989) One who openly professes religion, a professing Christian, may be a Puritan revival of the 15th-century use;^(Etymonline) the OED traces it to the 1530s, and it is now chiefly Scottish and American,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) as in the dialect of Scotland, Lancashire and Cornwall, where it meant one who claims an uncommon religious fervour.^(Wright 1898) As a title before a name it is from 1706,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the short form ''prof'' from 1838.^(Etymonline) In the US it has also been used loosely of a schoolmaster or tutor (1903).^(OED 1989) ''Professorial'' is from 1713, in Richard Bentley.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – a university teacher of the highest rank.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1387 – a teacher of a branch of knowledge.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1420 – a professed member of a religious order.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1538 – one who openly declares his beliefs.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1706 – as a title.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1713 – ''professorial''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1838 – ''prof''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A teacher of the highest rank at a [[university]] or college.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Any teacher or [[instructor]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # One who professes or declares a belief, especially a [[religion]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[professorial]]

+ * [[professorially]]

+ * [[professorship]]

+ * [[professorialism]]

+ * [[professorate]]

+ * [[professoriat]]

+ * [[professoriate]]

+ * [[subprofessor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[regius professor]]

+ * [[profess]]

+ * [[profession]]

+ * [[professional]]

+ * [[prof]]

+ * [[confess]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}