A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 41

_Graduated_ a doctor, and dubb'd a knight.--_Carew_.

Pickering, in his Vocabulary, says of the word _graduate_: "Johnson has it as a verb active only. But an English friend observes, that 'the active sense of this word is rare in England.'

I have met with one instance in an English publication where it is used in a dialogue, in the following manner: 'You, methinks, _are graduated_.' See a review in the British Critic, Vol. x.x.xIV. p.

538."

In Mr. Todd's edition of Johnson's Dictionary, this word is given as a verb intransitive also: "To take an academical degree; to become a graduate; as he _graduated_ at Oxford."

In America, the use of the phrase _he was graduated_, instead of _he graduated_, which has been of late so common, "is merely,"

says Mr. Bartlett in his Dictionary of Americanisms, "a return to former practice, the verb being originally active transitive."

He _was graduated_ with the esteem of the government, and the regard of his contemporaries--_Works of R.T. Paine_, p. xxix. The latter, who _was graduated_ thirteen years after.--_Peirce's Hist.

Harv. Univ._, p. 219.

In this perplexity the President had resolved "to yield to the torrent, and _graduate_ Hartshorn."--_Quincy's Hist. Harv. Univ._, Vol. I. p. 398. (The quotation was written in 1737.)

In May, 1749, three gentlemen who had sons about _to be graduated_.--_Ibid._, Vol. II. p. 92.

Mr. Peirce was born in September, 1778; and, after _being graduated_ at Harvard College, with the highest honors of his cla.s.s.--_Ibid._, Vol. II. p. 390, and Chap. x.x.xVII. _pa.s.sim_.

He _was graduated_ in 1789 with distinguished honors, at the age of nineteen.--_Mr. Young's Discourse on the Life of President Kirkland_.

His cla.s.s when _graduated_, in 1785, consisted of thirty-two persons.--_Dr. Palfrey's Discourse on the Life and Character of Dr. Ware_.

2. _Intransitively_. To receive a degree from a college or university.

He _graduated_ at Leyden in 1691.--_London Monthly Mag._, Oct.

1808, p. 224.

Wherever Magnol _graduated_.--_Rees's Cyclopaedia_, Art. MAGNOL.

GRADUATE. One who has received a degree in a college or university, or from some professional incorporated society.--_Webster_.

GRADUATE IN A SCHOOL. A degree given, in the University of Virginia, to those who have been through a course of study less than is required for the degree of B.A.

GRADUATION. The act of conferring or receiving academical degrees.

--_Charter of Dartmouth College_.

After his _graduation_ at Yale College, in 1744, he continued his studies at Harvard University, where he took his second degree in 1747.--_Hist. Sketch of Columbia Coll._, p. 122.

Bachelors were called Senior, Middle, or Junior Bachelors according to the year since _graduation_, and before taking the degree of Master.--_Woolsey's Hist. Disc._, p. 122.

GRAND COMPOUNDER. At the English Universities, one who pays double fees for his degree.

"Candidates for all degrees, who possess certain property," says the Oxford University Calendar, "must go out, as it is termed, _Grand Compounders_. The property required for this purpose may arise from two distinct sources; either from some ecclesiastical benefice or benefices, or else from some other revenue, civil or ecclesiastical. The ratio of computation in the first case is expressly limited by statute to the value of the benefice or benefices, as _rated in the King's books_, without regard to the actual estimation at the present period; and the amount of that value must not be _less than forty pounds_. In the second instance, which includes all other cases, comprising ecclesiastical as well as civil income, (academical income alone excepted,) property to the extent of _three hundred pounds_ a year is required; nor is any difference made between property in land and property in money, so that a _legal_ revenue to this extent of any description, not arising from a benefice or benefices, and not being strictly academical, renders the qualification complete."--Ed. 1832, p. 92.

At Oxford "a '_grand compounder_' is one who has income to the amount of $1,500, and is made to pay $150 for his degree, while the ordinary fee is $42." _Lit. World_, Vol. XII. p. 247.

GRAND TRIBUNAL. The Grand Tribunal is an inst.i.tution peculiar to Trinity College, Hartford. A correspondent describes it as follows. "The Grand Tribunal is a mock court composed of the Senior and Junior Cla.s.ses, and has for its special object the regulation and discipline of Soph.o.m.ores. The first officer of the Tribunal is the 'Grand High Chancellor,' who presides at all business meetings. The Tribunal has its judges, advocates, sheriff, and his aids. According to the laws of the Tribunal, no Soph.o.m.ore can be tried who has three votes in his favor. This regulation makes a trial a difficult matter; there is rarely more than one trial a year, and sometimes two years elapse without there being a session of the court. When a selection of an offending and unlucky Soph has been made, he is arrested some time during the day of the evening on which his trial takes place. The court provides him with one advocate, while he has the privilege of choosing another. These trials are often the scenes of considerable wit and eloquence. One of the most famous of them was held in 1853. When the Tribunal is in session, it is customary for the Faculty of the College to act as its police, by preserving order amongst the Sophs, who generally a.s.semble at the door, to disturb, if possible, the proceedings of the Court."

GRANTA. The name by which the University of Cambridge, Eng., was formerly known. At present it is sometimes designated by this t.i.tle in poetry, and in addresses written in other tongues than the vernacular.

Warm with fond hope, and Learning's sacred flame, To _Granta's_ bowers the youthful Poet came.

_Lines in Memory of H.K. White, by Prof. William Smyth_, in _Cam. Guide_.

GRATULATORY. Expressing gratulation; congratulatory.

At Harvard College, while Wadsworth was President, in the early part of the last century, it was customary to close the exercises of Commencement day with a _gratulatory oration_, p.r.o.nounced by one of the candidates for a degree. This has now given place to what is generally called the _valedictory oration_.

GRAVEL DAY. The following account of this day is given in a work ent.i.tled Sketches of Williams College. "On the second Monday of the first term in the year, if the weather be at all favorable, it has been customary from time immemorial to hold a college meeting, and pet.i.tion the President for '_Gravel day_.' We did so this morning. The day was granted, and, recitations being dispensed with, the students turned out _en ma.s.se_ to re-gravel the college walks. The gravel which we obtain here is of such a nature that it packs down very closely, and renders the walks as hard and smooth as a pavement. The Faculty grant this day for the purpose of fostering in the students the habit of physical labor and exercise, so essential to vigorous mental exertion."--1847, pp.

78, 79.

The improved method of observing this day is noted in the annexed extract. "Nearly every college has its own peculiar customs, which have been transmitted from far antiquity; but Williams has perhaps less than any other. Among ours are '_gravel day_,' 'chip day,'

and 'mountain day,' occurring one in each of the three terms. The first usually comes in the early part of the Fall term. In old times, when the students were few, and rather fonder of _work_ than at the present, they turned out with spades, hoes, and other implements, and spread gravel over the walks, to the College grounds; but in later days, they have preferred to tax themselves to a small amount and delegate the work to others, while they spend the day in visiting the Cascade, the Natural Bridge, or others of the numerous places of interest near us."--_Boston Daily Evening Traveller_, July 12, 1854.

GREAT GO. In the English universities the final and most important examination is called the _great go_, in contradistinction to the _little go_, an examination about the middle of the course.

In my way back I stepped into the _Great Go_ schools.--_The Etonian_, Vol. II. p. 287.

Read through the whole five volumes folio, Latin, previous to going up for his _Great Go_.--_Ibid._, Vol. II. p. 381.

GREEN. Inexperienced, unsophisticated, verdant. Among collegians this term is the favorite appellation for Freshmen.

When a man is called _verdant_ or _green_, it means that he is unsophisticated and raw. For instance, when a man rushes to chapel in the morning at the ringing of the first bell, it is called _green_. At least, we were, for it. This greenness, we would remark, is not, like the verdure in the vision of the poet, necessarily perennial.--_Williams Monthly Miscellany_, 1845, Vol.

I. p. 463.

GRIND. An exaction; an oppressive action. Students speak of a very long lesson which they are required to learn, or of any thing which it is very unpleasant or difficult to perform, as a _grind_.

This meaning is derived from the verb _to grind_, in the sense of to hara.s.s, to afflict; as, to _grind_ the faces of the poor (Isaiah iii. 15).

I must say 't is a _grind_, though --(perchance I spoke too loud).

_Poem before Iadma_, 1850, p. 12.

GRINDING. Hard study; diligent application.

The successful candidate enjoys especial and excessive _grinding_ during the four years of his college course. _Burlesque Catalogue, Yale Coll._, 1852-53, p. 28.