This week’s theme
Adjectives used postpositively

This week’s words
ad litem
errant
aforethought
immemorial
laureate


This week’s comments
AWADmail 917

Next week’s theme
Words about books

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(LOR-ee-uht)

MEANING:

adjective: Having special distinction or recognition in a field.
noun: A person honored for achieving distinction in a field.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin laureatus (crowned with laurel), from laurea (crown of laurel), feminine of laureus (of laurel), from laurus (laurel). Earliest documented use: 1395.

NOTES:

In ancient Greece, a wreath or a crown of laurel sprigs was used to honor people. The word baccalaureate as a synonym for bachelor’s degree was formed from the alteration of Latin baccalarius to conform to bacca lauri (laurel berry).

USAGE:

“To foster financial education, the US President or the Secretary of the Treasury should appoint an investor laureate to serve the nation.”
Steven M. Sears; The Indomitable Investor; Wiley; 2012.
[May we suggest Bernie Madoff as our first investor laureate? -Ed.]

See more usage examples of laureate in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: