Abitur

noun Abi·tur \ ˌä-bi-ˈtu̇r \

Definition of Abitur

: an examination that students in Germany are required to pass in order to be eligible to attend a university

Women take a different route to underemployment. Their problem is not education: they make up a majority of those who pass the Abitur as well as of university students.
—The Economist, 11 Mar. 2010

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Origin and Etymology of abitur

borrowed from German, borrowed from Latin abitūrus “about to depart, one who is going to depart,” future participle of abīre “to go off, depart, pass on”

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1908

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year