What is the 'REAL' meaning of the word Alumni?What is the counterpart of that word?
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06-29-04, 01:15 PM
Judy
I will give you a clue, Alumni is actually a plural of another word which refers to......what? Go for the "root".

06-29-04, 04:23 PM
Georgia85
Que?
Alumni is the plural form of Alumnus. And one definition of Alumnus is an initiated member into a fraternity who has graduated or left college prior to graduation. Now if that's definition you're going by, then the counterpart would be Alumna which is any member of a sorority who has graduated from college or left college prior to graduation.
07-01-04, 01:45 PM
Judy
This is what I have Georgia:"Alumni" does not mean the collective male and female former students of a college or university. "Alumni" is actually the plural of "alumnus," which refers to a male. Therefore, "alumni" means more than one MALE former student. An "alumna" is the female counterpart to "alumnus," and "alumnae" is the plural of that word, meaning more than one FEMALE former student.

07-02-04, 10:11 AM
Georgia85
So we agree then Smile

07-03-04, 06:53 AM
coldfuse
In Latin, alumnus (and alumna) take on the meanings of "one who is nourished," more specifically: nursling, pupil, and foster son (or foster daughter).

A little research indicates that, in later Latin, it also meant nourisher or educator.

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