emeritus
[ ih-mer-i-tuh s ]
/ ɪˈmɛr ɪ təs /
adjective
retired or honorably discharged from active professional duty, but retaining the title of one's office or position: dean emeritus of the graduate school; editor in chief emeritus.
noun, plural e·mer·i·ti [ih-mer-i-tahy, -tee] /ɪˈmɛr ɪˌtaɪ, -ˌti/.
an emeritus professor, minister, etc.
Origin of emeritus
1785–95; < Latin
ēmeritus having fully earned (past participle of
ēmerēre), equivalent to
ē-
e-1 +
meri- earn +
-tus past participle suffix
Words nearby emeritus
emergent norm,
emergicenter,
emerging,
emerging market,
emerita,
emeritus,
emerize,
emersed,
emersion,
emerson,
emerson, ralph waldo
British Dictionary definitions for emeriti
emeritus
/ (ɪˈmɛrɪtəs) /
adjective
(usually postpositive)
retired or honourably discharged from full-time work, but retaining one's title on an honorary basis
a professor emeritus
Word Origin for emeritus
C19: from Latin, from
merēre to deserve; see
merit