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sophomore

/ˈsɒf.ə.mɔː/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about sophomore at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A second-year undergraduate.

adjective

  1. Used of the second year in United States high school or college.
    the sophomore class

Origin

From earlier sophumer, from the obsolete sophom, sophum (“sophism or dialectical exercise”), from Ancient Greek σόφισμα (sóphisma). Likely influenced by Ancient Greek σοφός (sophós, “wise”) + μωρός (mōrós, “fool”). Compare oxymoron (literally “sharp-dull”), a similar contradiction.

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