sophomore

The story

1. Ancient Greekσοφός (sophós)
2. Ancient Greekσοφίζω (sophízō)
3. Ancient Greekσόφισμα (sóphisma)
4. Englishsophum, sophom
5. Englishsophumer
6. English todaysophomore

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.

Words from the same roots