sophomore

Where does the word "sophomore" come from? It comes from Greek sophos, passing through English before entering English (1700s).

Sophomore’s story begins in Greek: sophos meant “wise.” Wise, as in 'philosophy'. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in English as sophister. Cambridge students in their second and third years were called sophisters, from their exercises in debate. It reached English by 1700s as sophomore. Altered from 'sophumer'; it died out at Cambridge but Harvard and other American colleges kept it, and it was later explained as Greek 'wise fool'. Today, sophomore means a second-year student at a US high school or college.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient sophos "wise", wise, as in 'philosophy'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s sophister "student debater", Cambridge students in their second and third years were called sophisters, from their exercises in debate.
3. Stage 3 · American English · 1700s sophomore "second-year student", altered from 'sophumer'; it died out at Cambridge but Harvard and other American colleges kept it, and it was later explained as Greek 'wise fool'.