What the heck is an Emeritus?

Well one thing is for sure, his 'title' sure does expand our vocabulary, apart from the usual increase in regularity of usage of expletives when mentioned with the proceeding name.


Courtesy of Wikipedia

Emeritus (IPA pronunciation: [əˈmɛrɪtəs] or [ɪˈmɛrɪtəs]) is an adjective that is used in the title of a retired professor, bishop or other professional. Emerita was used for women, but is rarely used today. The term is used when a person of importance in a given profession retires, so that his or her former rank can still be used in his or her title. This is particularly useful when establishing the authority a person might have to comment, lecture or write on a particular subject.

The word is typically used as a postpositive adjective but can also be used as a prepositive adjective. It is frequently captilized when it forms part of a title. The word originated in the mid-18th century from Latin as the past participle of emereri meaning to "earn one's discharge by service". Emereri itself is a compound of the prefix e- (a variant of ex-) meaning "out of or from" and mereri meaning "earn". The word is always associated the title, not the name, of a person. For example, "Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Alex Robertson".

As you slowly digest the information, what is obviously missing is that, the frequently mentioned individual is an Emeritus.... but of what?

Perhaps it might not be compulsary to state 'Emeritus of 'what' ' . . .

Courtesy of online dictionary

e·mer·i·tus
adj.

Retired but retaining an honorary title corresponding to that held immediately before retirement: a professor emeritus.

Well, the consistent definitive term used in Emeritus is of course, Retired. Retired Why isn't he REALLY RETIRED as his title professes???

So if since he's still working, and making a living, would one consider he has retired? Perhaps one considers leaving his homeland, coming to a foreign country, earning a nice salary, governing and lording over a college with staff and students that kowtow and please you, yeah, that might be considered a retirement.

Of course, we also neglect our liking for oh-so-cool technical terms and names. Terms and names, meanings of which we have no clue whatsoever, but with their aura of mystery and sophistication, bring with it the weight of self-declared importance and worth. Now if only someone can find out what FRSA means.

disgruntled