schoolman means A medieval writer, scholar or teacher of the subjects taught at early European universities (such as theology, metaphysics and logic); a scholastic. It carries an Arena rating of 1442, earned across 12 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, schoolman ranks #3,570 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #6,908 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #7,493 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #7,634 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words.
Why “schoolman” is a great word
A medieval academic, typically a cleric, dedicated to the systematic study and teaching of theology, metaphysics, and formal logic within the tradition of scholasticism. From Middle English scoleman (found in names), from Old English scōlman, scōlmann ('student, scholar'), equivalent to school + -man, the term is first recorded in the Old English period (pre-1150). Unlike a humanist, who sought wisdom in the recovered elegance of Cicero and Plato, or a generic scholar, who may pursue knowledge in any field, the schoolman was a master of the quaestio and the disputatio, building intricate cathedrals of thought from syllogism and scriptural authority. One pictures him in a cold stone hall, tracing intricate arguments in the margin of a well-thumbed Aristotle; hears the precise, relentless cadence of his voice defending a point on angelic substance or the nature of universals; smells the tallow smoke and parchment dust of a world where thought was the highest form of labor—a figure now remote, whose fervent logic sought to map the mind of God, but who ultimately proved the limits of reason alone.
Etymology
From Middle English scoleman (attested in names), from Old English scōlman, scōlmann (“student, scholar”), equivalent to school + -man.
noun
- A medieval writer, scholar or teacher of the subjects taught at early European universities (such as theology, metaphysics and logic); a scholastic.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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