laureate

Meanings

1. Crowned, or decked, with laurel.

1. One crowned with laurel, such as a poet laureate or Nobel laureate.
2. A graduate of a university.

1. To honor with a wreath of laurel, as formerly was done in bestowing a degree at English universities.

Etymology

First attested during the end of the 15th century, in Middle English; borrowed from Latin laureātus, from laurea (“laurel crown, wreath”, a high reward given to poets and later to the triumphant) + -ātus (forming adjectives indicating possession) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from laureus (“of laurel”), from laurus (“laurel”). The verb was formed by metanalysis, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French lauréat.