Academia, academe, groves of academe

Posted by ESC on August 22, 2003

In Reply to: Academia posted by GPP 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

• Did I pip you? GPP 22/August/03