Are we scholars?

[Eva Elisabeth]

(07-19-2015 03:52 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I suspect (without looking it up) that the word "scholar" has its basis in a Latin word for "to study."

Yes, originally scholars were traveling students or clergy men who held no rank/office (position?) in the church. Nowadays "officially", i.e. as a profession, shall accomplish both: research and teaching [Forschung und Lehre]. (I like the term "history nerd".)

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This is Merriam - Webster's definition:

- a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it
- an intelligent and well-educated person who knows a particular subject very well
- someone who has been given a scholarship

Full Definition
1: a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher :pupil

2a: a person who has done advanced study in a special field
b: a learned person

3 :a holder of a scholarship

Origin

Middle English scoler, from Old English scolere & Anglo-French escoler, from Medieval Latin scholaris, from Late Latin, of a school, from Latin schola school
First Use: before 12th century

http://i.word.com/idictionary/scholar

You could also consider your status by checking the antonyms:
-amateur, inexpert, nonexpert
...and applying mathematical "exclusive or" ("Kontravalenz") conclude: "If not a), then b)", or: "If not a)[ntonym], then s)[cholar]".

As for myself and re. "a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it" - I feel like Einstein - "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know," respectively Socrates - "I know one thing: that I know nothing". Plus I'm forgetful. I'm happy about remembering where to look things up.