sophomore

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A second-year student at a US high school or university.

   She was very mature for a sophomore and had several friends who were juniors or seniors.

2. 2
   adj

   Being the second in a series, especially an artist's second album.

   The band's sophomore album built on the success of their debut.

From earlier sophumer, from the obsolete sophom, sophum (“sophism or dialectical exercise”), from Ancient Greek σόφισμα (sóphisma). Likely influenced by Ancient Greek σοφός (sophós, “wise”) + μωρός (mōrós, “fool”). Compare oxymoron (literally “sharp-dull”), a similar contradiction.

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