Graduate Comes From the Latin for a Step
A grad is a graduate. The word describes moving up by degrees, in the original sense of the term.
A grad is an informal shortening of *graduate*, someone who has completed a degree. Latin *gradus* meant a step, and a university *degree* was literally a step on a ladder of learning — *grade*, *gradual* and *degree* all come from it. To graduate is to take a step up. *Gradual* means proceeding step by step, which is why a gradual change is not simply a slow one but one that advances in stages.
- A graduate. *A recent grad.*
- Graduate — the full word. *A graduate.*
- Grade — a step. *A grade.*
- Gradual — step by step. *Gradual.*
- Latin — *gradus*, a step. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | grad | A grad. |
| Plural | grads | Grads. |
| Full form | graduate | A graduate. |
| Related | degree | A degree. |
| Latin | gradus | A step. |
- She is a recent grad.Informal.
- Gradus means a step.Etymology.
- A degree is a step.Connection.
The gradus family
- Degree — a step on a ladder of rank or learning
- Gradual — advancing step by step
- Grade — a level or step
- Progress — a stepping forward
- Aggressive — a stepping towards, originally an attack
Short for *graduate*, from medieval Latin *graduare*, to take a degree, from *gradus*, a step.
Why is a qualification called a degree?
From Latin gradus, a step. A degree was a step on a ladder of learning, and to graduate was to take that step.
Is aggressive related?
Yes. It comes from the same root, meaning a stepping towards, originally in the sense of an attack.