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Where does the word "alumni" come from? It comes from Latin alumnus, and was adopted directly into English (1640s).
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Where does the word "alumni" come from? It comes from Latin alumnus, and was adopted directly into English (1640s).
Alumni’s story begins in Latin: alumnus meant “foster child, pupil.” A foster son or pupil, from 'alere', to nourish, the same verb behind 'alma mater'. It reached English by 1640s as alumni. American colleges formed the first alumni associations in the early 1800s. Today, alumni means former students of a school, college or university.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient alumnus "foster child, pupil", a foster son or pupil, from 'alere', to nourish, the same verb behind 'alma mater'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1640s alumni "graduates", American colleges formed the first alumni associations in the early 1800s.