academic

The story

1. Ancient GreekἈκάδημος (Akádēmos)
2. Ancient GreekἈκαδημία (Akadēmía)
3. Ancient GreekἈκάδημος (Akádēmos)
4. Ancient GreekἈκαδήμεια (Akadḗmeia)
5. Ancient Greekἀκαδημικός (akadēmikós)
6. Medieval Latinacadēmicus
7. Latinacadēmicu
8. Frenchacadémique
9. English todayacademic

From both the Medieval Latin acadēmicus and the French académique, from Latin academia, from Ancient Greek ἀκαδημικός (akadēmikós), from Ἀκαδημία (Akadēmía) or Ἀκαδήμεια (Akadḗmeia), the name of the place where Plato taught; compare academy. By surface analysis, academy + -ic.

First known use, by meaning

• from late 16th century Belonging to the school or philosophy of Plato.
• from late 16th century Belonging to an academy or other higher institution of learning, or a scholarly society or organization.
• from late 19th century Having little practical use or value, as by being overly detailed and unengaging, or by being theoretical and speculative with no practical importance.
• from late 19th century Conforming to set rules and traditions; conventional; formalistic.
• from late 19th century Subscribing to the architectural standards of Vitruvius.
• First attested in the mid 16th century. A follower of Plato, a Platonist.
• First attested in the late 16th century. A senior member of an academy, college, or university; a person who attends an academy; a person engaged in scholarly pursuits; one who is academic in practice.
• First attested in the mid 18th century. A member of the Academy; an academician.