1. trans. To admit to a university degree. Also with complement, indicating the degree obtained. (Cf. sense 3.) Now rare exc. U.S.
1588 PARKE tr. Mendoza's Hist. China xiv. 95 To commence or graduate such students as haue finished their course. 1602 CAREW Surv. Cornwall I. (1723) 61 John Tregonwel, graduated a Doctor and dubbed a Knight, did his Prince good seruice. c1645 HOWELL Lett. (1650) I. 3 Transplanting me thence to Oxford, to be graduated. 1693 Apol. Clergy Scot. 106 An insinuation that he was not graduated Doctor in the University. 1723 in B. Peirce Hist. Harvard Univ. (1833) 128 The Theses of the Batchelours to be graduated at Commencement. 1766 T. CLAP Hist. Yale Coll. 23 [He] upon his Return was graduated at this College 1724. 1844 EMERSON Lect., New Eng. Ref. Wks. (Bohn) I. 262 Some thousands of young men are graduated at our colleges in this country every year. 1884 Harper's Mag. Nov. 813/1 The class of '76 was graduated with six men.
fig. 1622 MABBE tr. Aleman's Guzman d' Alf. I. 75 With him I ranne over the whole course of my misfortunes, since the first time that I was graduated and tooke degree in them. a1661 FULLER Worthies, Durham (1662) I. 316 This Fresh-man Colledge lived not to be matriculated, much less (not lasting seven years) graduated, God in his wisdom seeing the contrary fitter.
[cross-threading and put-paiding]
