BACCALAUREATE

baccalaureate

(noun) a farewell sermon to a graduating class at their commencement ceremonies

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

baccalaureate (plural baccalaureates)

A bachelor's degree.

A high school completion exam and qualification awarded in many countries (e.g. Finland, France, Moldova, Romania), designed to enable students to go on to higher education.

(US) A farewell address in the form of a sermon delivered to a graduating class.

The International Baccalaureate.

Synonyms

• (first or lowest academic degree conferred by universities): bachelor's degree

Source: Wiktionary

Bac"ca*lau"re*ate, n. Etym: [NL. baccalaureatus, fr.LL. baccalaureus a bachelor of arts, fr. baccalarius, but as if fr L. bacca lauri bayberry, from the practice of the bachelor's wearing a garland of bayberries. See Bachelor.]

1. The degree of bachelor of arts. (B.A. or A.B.), the first or lowest academical degree conferred by universities and colleges.

2. A baccalaureate sermon. [U.S.]

Bac`ca*lau"re*ate, a.

Definition: Pertaining to a bachelor of arts. Baccalaureate sermon, in some American colleges, a sermon delivered as a farewell discourse to a graduating class.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition