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Added 10 October 2026

laureate

/ˈlɒɹ.i.ət/ adjective

Latin root: laureātus First recorded: 15th century Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about laureate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Crowned, or decked, with laurel.

noun

One crowned with laurel, such as a poet laureate or Nobel laureate.
A graduate of a university.

verb

To honor with a wreath of laurel, as formerly was done in bestowing a degree at English universities.

Origin

First attested during the end of the 15th century, in Middle English; borrowed from Latin laureātus, from laurea (“laurel crown, wreath”, a high reward given to poets and later to the triumphant) + -ātus (forming adjectives indicating possession) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from laureus (“of laurel”), from laurus (“laurel”). The verb was formed by metanalysis, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French lauréat.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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