erudition

The story

1. Latin · derived fromeruditio“an instructing, learning, erudition”
2. Middle French · derived fromérudition
3. English todayerudition

First attested in the 15th Century. From Middle French érudition, from Latin eruditio (“an instructing, learning, erudition”), from erudire (“to instruct, educate, cultivate”, literally “free from rudeness”), from e (“out”) + rudis (“rude”). By surface analysis, erudite + -ion.