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Today it means

cum laude

with academic honors, a distinction given to graduating students

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Where does the word "cum laude" come from? It comes from Latin cum laude, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

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Where does the word "cum laude" come from? It comes from Latin cum laude, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Cum laude’s story begins in Latin: cum laude meant “with praise.” With praise, from cum (with) and laus (praise). It reached English by 1900s as cum laude. Harvard began using the Latin honours 'cum laude', 'magna cum laude' and 'summa cum laude' in 1869. Today, cum laude means with academic honors, a distinction given to graduating students.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cum laude "with praise", with praise, from cum (with) and laus (praise).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s cum laude "with academic honor or distinction", Harvard began using the Latin honours 'cum laude', 'magna cum laude' and 'summa cum laude' in 1869.

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