baccalaureate — ONAD

baccalaureate /ˌbakəˈlôrēət, ˌbækəˈlɔriət

▸ noun

1 a college bachelor's degree.

2 British an examination intended to qualify successful candidates for higher education.

3 US a religious service held at some educational institutions before commencement, containing a farewell sermon to the graduating class.

– ORIGIN mid 17th century (in baccalaureate (SENSE 2 OF THE noun)): from French baccalauréat or medieval Latin baccalaureatus, from baccalaureus ‘bachelor’. The earlier form baccalarius was altered by wordplay to conform with bacca lauri ‘laurel berry’, because of the laurels awarded to scholars. baccalaureate (SENSE 1 OF THE noun) dates from 1970.