student
/ˈstuːdənt/
noun
Origin
Latin
studere — to be diligent, to apply oneself
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person who is studying, investigating, or examining something.
- A person who is enrolled at a school, college, or university.
Literal older meaning
one who is eager or zealous
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
studient
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term stems from the Latin concept of 'studium', which originally denoted dedication or zeal rather than the institutionalized role of a pupil. In medieval universities, the status of a 'student' was closely tied to the clergy, as early academic institutions were predominantly ecclesiastical.
Evolution
- Latin
studere
“to busy oneself, to strive after”
- Latin
studens, studentem
“being eager or diligent”
Present participle form of studere
- Old French
estudiant
“one who studies”
- Middle English
studient
“a learner”
Influenced by Latin spelling
Connections
Word parts
stud
root
to strive or apply
ent
suffix
agentive suffix (one who does)
Related across languages
French
étudiant
student
Spanish
estudiante
student
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.