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.
双语例句
1. The degree provides a thorough grounding in both mathematics and statistics.
该学位课程将为数学和统计学打下扎实的基础。
来自柯林斯例句
2. This degree programme is fully accredited by the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
这门学位课程经电气工程师学院鉴定完全合格。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The psychiatrist must learn to maintain an unusual degree of objectivity.
精神科医生务必要学会保持超乎寻常的客观态度。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Harriet graduated with a first class degree in literature.
哈丽雅特毕业时获文学一级学士学位。
来自柯林斯例句
5. "A college degree isn't enough", said one honors student.