Message-ID: <27028457.1075846821857.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2000 17:26:00 -0700 (PDT) From: wsmith@wordsmith.org To: linguaphile@wordsmith.org Subject: A.Word.A.Day--aegrotat Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Wordsmith X-To: linguaphile@wordsmith.org X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Susan_Scott_Dec2000_June2001_2\Notes Folders\Wordsmith X-Origin: SCOTT-S X-FileName: sscott5.nsf aegrotat (EE-gro-tat, ee-GRO-tat) noun An unclassified degree granted a university student who has fulfilled all requirements for graduation but was prevented by illness from attending the final examinations. [From Latin aegrotat literally, he is sick, equivalent to aegrot(us) sick (aeg(e)r sick + -otus adjectival suffix) + -at 3rd singular ending.] "Powell got a first in the exams he sat in the nursing home - his classics tripos finals. If he had not been able to sit them there, he would only have got an aegrotat degree - which might well have affected his future." Eric James, Deep rivers, indeed, New Statesman, Apr 24, 1998. This week's theme: words from the world of learning and the learned. ............................................................................. Of life's two chief prizes, beauty and truth, I found the first in a loving heart and the second in a laborer's hand. -Kahlil Gibran, mystic, poet, dramatist, and artist (1883-1931) Send your comments about words to anu@wordsmith.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe A.Word.A.Day, send a message to wsmith@wordsmith.org with "Subject:" line as "subscribe " or "unsubscribe". Archives, FAQ, gift subscription form, and more at: http://wordsmith.org/awad/ Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/aegrotat.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/aegrotat.ram