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Webster 1913 Edition

Bachelor

Bach′e-lor

(băch′ē̍-lẽr)
,
Noun.
[OF.
bacheler
young man, F.
bachelier
(cf. Pr.
bacalar
, Sp.
bachiller
, Pg.
bacharel
, It.
baccalare
), LL.
baccalarius
the tenant of a kind of farm called
baccalaria
, a soldier not old or rich enough to lead his retainers into battle with a banner, a person of an inferior academical degree aspiring to a doctorate. In the latter sense, it was afterward changed to baccalaureus. See
Baccalaureate
,
Noun.
]
1.
A man of any age who has not been married.
As merry and mellow an old
bachelor
as ever followed a hound.
W. Irving.
2.
An unmarried woman.
[Obs.]
B. Jonson.
3.
A person who has taken the first or lowest degree in the liberal arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university;
as, a
bachelor
of arts
.
4.
A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight.
5.
In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member.
[Obs.]
6.
(Zool.)
A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (
Pomoxys annularis
) of the southern United States.

Webster 1828 Edition

Bachelor

BACH'ELOR

, n.[L.baculus, a stick, that is, a shoot.]
1.
A young man who has not been married.
2.
A man of any age, who has not been married; often with the word old.
3.
A person who has taken the first degree in the liberal arts and sciences, at a college or university. This degree or honor is called the baccalaureate. This title is given also to such as take the first degree in divinity, law or physic, in certain European universities.
4.
A knight of the lowest order, or more correctly, a young knight, styled, a knight bachelor. The Germans anciently constituted their young men knights or soldiers, by presenting to them a shield and a lance, in a great council. This ceremony answered to that of the toga virilis of the Romans. In the livery companies of London, those persons not yet admitted to the livery are called bachelors.

Definition 2025

Bachelor

Bachelor

See also: bachelor

German

Noun

Bachelor m ‎(genitive Bachelors or Bachelor, plural Bachelor or Bachelors)

  1. bachelor's degree
  2. bachelor graduate

Usage notes

  • The unchanged plural (die) Bachelor is in practice more common than (die) Bachelors, the form officially recognized by the Duden. The plural is often, however, avoided in writing by means of using a compound word (Bachelorabschlüsse or Bachelorabsolventen, depending on the sense). This is particularly so in the dative plural, where the form (den) Bachelorn—although perfectly acceptable in speech—may be considered disturbing to the eye.

Declension

Unchanged plural
S-plural

Derived terms

  • Bachelorabschluss
  • Bachelorabsolvent
  • Bachelorarbeit
  • Bachelorprüfung
  • Bachelorstudiengang

Related terms

See also

bachelor

bachelor

See also: Bachelor

English

Alternative forms

Noun

bachelor ‎(plural bachelors)

  1. A man who is socially regarded as able to marry, but has not yet.
    • Washington Irving
      As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound.
  2. The first or lowest academical degree conferred by universities and colleges; a bachelor's degree.
  3. Someone who has achieved a bachelor's degree.
  4. (Canada) A bachelor apartment.
  5. (obsolete) An unmarried woman.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Ben Jonson to this entry?)
  6. (obsolete) A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field.
  7. (obsolete) Among London tradesmen, a junior member not yet admitted to wear the livery.
  8. A kind of bass, an edible freshwater fish (Pomoxys annularis) of the southern United States.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

French

Noun

bachelor m ‎(plural bachelors)

  1. bachelor (degree)

Etymology

From English bachelor.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbɛ.t͡ʃə.lɐ/ (official standard)
  • IPA(key): /ˈbɛt͡ʃ.lɐ/ (more common)

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