graduate English · revision 4791

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1415|origins=la-med graduatus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun: /ˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/, verb: /ˈɡrædʒ.u.eɪt/, /ˈɡræd.ju.eɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|graduat]], [[bor|la-med|graduātus]],^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) the past participle of graduārī “to take a degree”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Latin gradus “step, degree”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[grade]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Gradus is from [[ine-pro|*ghredh-|t=to walk, go]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Holding a university degree, in the phrase ''graduate man'': before 1415 in Barnhart, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The noun alone, one who holds a degree, is from the mid-15th century, 1479 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb first meant to confer a degree on someone (1421 in Barnhart, 1588 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The intransitive sense, to take a degree, is from 1807, in Southey's letters, and in the United States also to finish high school.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) To divide into degrees or mark with a scale is from 1594, and to arrange in grades from 1610.^(OED 1989) Figuratively, a graduate is one advanced in an art or career (1582),^(OED 1989) and a graduated measuring glass from 1883.^(OED 1989) In Norfolk and Suffolk dialect a graduate was a doctor.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1415 – holding a university degree.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1421 – verb, to confer a degree.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1479 – noun, a degree-holder.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1594 – to mark with degrees.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1807 – to take a degree.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1871 – ''graduate school'' and ''graduate student''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who has completed a [[university]] [[degree]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A person who has finished [[high school]] or another course of study.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To complete a course of study and receive a degree or diploma.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To move on to something more advanced.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To mark with a [[scale]] of measurements.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to study after a first degree: ''graduate school''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[graduator]]

+ * [[nongraduate]]

+ * [[graduate nurse]]

+ * [[graduate school]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[grade]]

+ * [[graduation]]

+ * [[gradual]]

+ * [[degree]]

+ * [[gradient]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}