seminar English · revision 39711

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1889, A. S. Hill, Our English|origins=la sēmen}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈsɛmɪnɑː/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈsɛmɪnɑɹ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|de|Seminar|t=a group of students working with a professor]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(ODE 2010) from [[la|sēminārium|t=plant nursery, seed plot]],^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) figuratively a breeding ground,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|sēminārius|t=of seed]], from [[m|la|sēmen|t=seed]].^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) It is a doublet of [[seminary]], which comes from the same Latin word.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) A much earlier English ''seminar'', taken directly from Latin in the sense "seminary", is recorded once in 1573.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A select group of advanced students studying a subject with a professor and doing original research, at first of German universities: 1887 in Barnhart and Etymonline, who label it American English,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and 1889 in the OED.^(OED 2026) Merriam-Webster gives an earlier first date, 1863,^(MWU 2024) and Dictionary.com 1885–90.^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline notes that both the word and the thing were taken from German universities, and that early writers sometimes called it ''seminary''.^(Etymonline) The broader sense, any meeting of specialists or a short course for discussion and exchange of information, is first recorded in 1944, in American English;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) the OED includes courses of instruction for managers.^(OED 2026) Attributive use, as in ''seminar room'', is recorded from 1948.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1573 – ''seminar'', a seminary (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1863 – Merriam-Webster's first known use.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1887 – a group of advanced students doing research under a professor.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1944 – a conference of specialists; a short course of study.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026)

+ * 1948 – attributive use.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small group of [[student|alt=students]] at a [[university]] who meet regularly with a teacher to discuss a subject or present their research; a class or meeting of such a group.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # An advanced course of study, especially for [[postgraduate|alt=postgraduates]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A meeting or short course for discussing a subject or exchanging information: ''a two-day seminar on food safety''.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[proseminar]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[semen]]

+ * [[seminary]]

+ * [[seed]]

+ * [[disseminate]]

+ * [[seminal]]

+ * [[webinar]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}