Did I pip you?

Posted by GPP on August 22, 2003

In Reply to: Academia, academe, groves of academe posted by ESC on August 22, 2003

: : : When a college student "emerges from academia", what does it mean? What is an academia?

: : Not 'an academia'. A general noun, not taking an article ('a', 'an', 'the'). From the word 'academy'; and meaning, roughly, the generality of colleges or universities; thus, the student has completed his/her formal studies. The phrase as quoted by you is very artificial and self-conscious, and would only be used by a stuffed-shirt academic.

: Merriam-Webster online:
: Main Entry: ac·a·de·mia
: Pronunciation: "a-k&-'dE-mE-&
: Function: noun
: Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, academy
: Date: 1946

: Another online dictionary - dictionary.com -- defines academia as: The academic community; academe.

: Back to Merriam-Webster:

: Main Entry: ac·a·deme
: Pronunciation: 'a-k&-"dEm, "a-k&-'
: Function: noun
: Etymology: Latin Academus (in the phrase inter silvas Academi among the groves of Academus), from Greek AkadEmos -- more at ACADEMY
: Date: 1588
: 1 a : a place of instruction : SCHOOL b : the academic life, community, or world
: 2 : ACADEMIC; especially : PEDANT

: Main Entry: groves of academe
: Usage: often capitalized A
: Date: 1849
: : the academic world

Sorry, ESC. Usually it's you who gives a quick translation, while I'm buried in the dictionary.