seminary

C1 Topic:Education & Learning

US /ˈsɛməˌnɛɹi/ UK /ˈsɛmɪnəɹi/ See IPA manual

Freq #18465

Meanings

1

noun
an institution that trains candidates for the priesthood, ministry, or rabbinate

After university, he entered a seminary to train for the priesthood.
2

noun
historical: a private school or academy, especially one for girls or young women

The sisters were educated at a private seminary for young ladies.
3

noun
archaic or figurative: a place or environment in which a quality, practice, or idea originates and spreads

Critics called the corrupt court a seminary of intrigue.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an institution that trains... theological collegedivinity schoolrabbinical school

2 noun · historical: a private... academyprivate school

3 noun · archaic or figurative: a... seedbednurserybreeding ground

Word family

Forms seminaries

Derived forms seminarianseminaristproseminary

Related forms seminar theology ministry priesthoodrabbinateeducation

Etymology

From Middle English seminary, 'seedbed or nursery,' from Latin seminarium, from semen, 'seed.' The plant nursery image was extended to places that cultivate people, beliefs, or practices. After the sixteenth century it became especially associated with schools training clergy; seminar belongs to the same word family.

Topics

Education & Learning

External links

# seminary

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɛməˌnɛɹi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɛmɪnəɹi/
**Frequency rank:** 18465

## Meanings
1. an institution that trains candidates for the priesthood, ministry, or rabbinate
2. historical: a private school or academy, especially one for girls or young women
3. archaic or figurative: a place or environment in which a quality, practice, or idea originates and spreads

## Examples
- After university, he entered a seminary to train for the priesthood.
- The sisters were educated at a private seminary for young ladies.
- Critics called the corrupt court a seminary of intrigue.

## Synonyms
- theological college
- divinity school
- rabbinical school
- academy
- private school
- seedbed
- nursery

## Derived Forms
- seminarian
- seminarist
- proseminary

## Related Forms
- seminar
- theology
- ministry
- priesthood
- rabbinate
- education

## Etymology
From Middle English seminary, 'seedbed or nursery,' from Latin seminarium, from semen, 'seed.' The plant nursery image was extended to places that cultivate people, beliefs, or practices. After the sixteenth century it became especially associated with schools training clergy; seminar belongs to the same word family.

## Topics
- Education & Learning

markdown