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collegium

noun col·le·gi·um \ kə-ˈle-gē-əm , -ˈlā- \

Definition of collegium

plural collegia play \kə-ˈle-gē-ə, -ˈlā-\ or collegiums

:a group in which each member has approximately equal power and authority

collegium was our Word of the Day on 02/12/2008. Hear the podcast!

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Did You Know?

English contains many words that were borrowed from Latin, either directly or often by way of French, which began to influence the development of English after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Collegium is borrowed from Latin as well, but its journey into the English language made an unusual stop at Russian, a Slavic language. Russian borrowed the Latin collegium ("society") as kollegiya, a word used for an advisory board or committee whose members share power. Kollegiya entered the English language in 1917, and with gradual modifications it was eventually restored to its original Latin spelling.

Origin and Etymology of collegium

modification of Russian kollegiya, from Latin collegium

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First Known Use: 1917

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