academic English · revision 4438

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1586|origins=grc Ἀκάδημος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌæk.əˈdem.ɪk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|académique]],^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) and directly [[der|la|Acadēmicus|t=of the school of Plato]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|Ἀκαδημαϊκός|tr=Akadēmaïkós]],^(MWU 2024) from Acadēmīa, the place where Plato taught,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) the source of [[academy]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, a philosopher of Plato's Academy: 1586 in the OED, the mid-16th century in SOED.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) As an adjective, of an academy or institution of higher learning: about 1588 in the OED, the 1580s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A member of a college or university is from 1587,^(OED 1989) at first a student,^(Etymonline) now especially a senior member or a scholar.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Belonging to Plato's Academy, and so sceptical, is from 1610.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The meaning “theoretical, not practical, not leading to a decision”, as of university debates or legal exercises in class, is by 1886,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in the arts “conforming too rigidly to the rules of an academy” from 1889.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Academic freedom'' is from 1901.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Johnson had academical and academician.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1586 – noun, a Platonist.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1587 – a member of a university.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1588 – of an academy.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610 – of Plato's Academy, sceptical.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1886 – theoretical, not practical.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1889 – conventional in art.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1901 – ''academic freedom''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to a [[school]], especially one of higher learning, or to scholarly work.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to liberal or classical studies rather than technical or vocational ones.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Theoretical or speculative, with no practical importance: ''an academic question''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Conforming to the rules of an academy; [[conventional]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A member of a university or college, especially a teacher or researcher.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person with a scholarly outlook or background.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[academically]]

+ * [[quasi-academic]]

+ * [[Academicism]]

+ * [[academicize]]

+ * [[interacademic]]

+ * [[pseudoacademic]]

+ * [[subacademic]]

+ * [[unacademic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[academia]]

+ * [[academical]]

+ * [[academism]]

+ * [[academy]]

+ * [[academician]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}