scholar

Where does the word "scholar" come from? It comes from Late Latin schola, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Scholar’s story begins in Late Latin: schola meant “school.” From Greek 'skholē', leisure spent in learning. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as escoler. Medieval students were 'scholars' at cathedral schools. It reached English by 1300s as scholar. Later a learned person rather than a pupil. Today, scholar means a learned person; a student holding a scholarship.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient schola "school", from Greek 'skholē', leisure spent in learning.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval escoler "student", medieval students were 'scholars' at cathedral schools.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s scholar "student", later a learned person rather than a pupil.