EMERITUS


Meaning of EMERITUS in English

I. ə̇ˈmerəd.əs, ēˈ-, -rətəs adjective

Etymology: Latin, past participle of emerēre to obtain by service, to complete one's term, from e- + merēre to earn, serve one's time

— more at merit

1. : holding after retirement (as from professional or academic office) an honorary title corresponding to that held last during active service

he is emeritus professor of English at a women's college

a red-faced emeritus cook

2. : retired from an office or position especially after gaining public or professional recognition

an emeritus dramatic critic — New York Times Book Review

— often used postpositively

professor emeritus

and sometimes converted to emeriti after a plural substantive

professors emeriti

II. noun

( plural emeri·ti -rəˌtī, -ˌtē)

: one retired from professional life but permitted to hold the rank of his last office as an honorary title

joining the ranks of the emeriti — W.W.Sweet

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.