degree: [13] Etymologically, degree means ‘step down’, a sense revealed more clearly in its relative degrade [14]. It comes via Old French degre from Vulgar Latin *dēgradus, a compound noun formed from the prefix dē- ‘down’ and gradus ‘step’ (source of English gradual and a wide range of other words). The word’s modern meanings, such as ‘academic rank’ and ‘unit of temperature’, come from an underlying abstract notion of a hierarchy of steps or ranks. Degrade represents a parallel but distinct formation, originally coined as ecclesiastical Latin dēgradāre and passed into English via Old French degrader. => degrade, gradual, progress
degree (n.)
early 13c., from Old French degré (12c.) "a step (of a stair), pace, degree (of relationship), academic degree; rank, status, position," said to be from Vulgar Latin *degradus "a step," from Late Latin degredare, from Latin de- "down" (see de-) + gradus "step" (see grade (n.)).
Most modern senses date from Middle English, from notion of a hierarchy of steps. Meaning "a grade of crime" is 1670s; that of "a unit of temperature" is from 1727. The division of the circle into 360 degrees was known in Babylon and Egypt. It is perhaps from the daily motion of the sun through the zodiac in the course of a year.
雙語例句
1. The degree provides a thorough grounding in both mathematics and statistics.
該學位課程將為數學和統計學打下扎實的基礎。
來自柯林斯例句
2. This degree programme is fully accredited by the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
這門學位課程經電氣工程師學院鑒定完全合格。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The psychiatrist must learn to maintain an unusual degree of objectivity.
精神科醫生務必要學會保持超乎尋常的客觀態度。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Harriet graduated with a first class degree in literature.
哈麗雅特畢業時獲文學一級學士學位。
來自柯林斯例句
5. "A college degree isn't enough", said one honors student.