degree: [13] Etymologically, degree means ‘step down’, a sense revealed more clearly in its relative degrade [14]. It comes via Old French degre from Vulgar Latin *dēgradus, a compound noun formed from the prefix dē- ‘down’ and gradus ‘step’ (source of English gradual and a wide range of other words). The word’s modern meanings, such as ‘academic rank’ and ‘unit of temperature’, come from an underlying abstract notion of a hierarchy of steps or ranks. Degrade represents a parallel but distinct formation, originally coined as ecclesiastical Latin dēgradāre and passed into English via Old French degrader. => degrade, gradual, progress
degree (n.)
early 13c., from Old French degré (12c.) "a step (of a stair), pace, degree (of relationship), academic degree; rank, status, position," said to be from Vulgar Latin *degradus "a step," from Late Latin degredare, from Latin de- "down" (see de-) + gradus "step" (see grade (n.)).
Most modern senses date from Middle English, from notion of a hierarchy of steps. Meaning "a grade of crime" is 1670s; that of "a unit of temperature" is from 1727. The division of the circle into 360 degrees was known in Babylon and Egypt. It is perhaps from the daily motion of the sun through the zodiac in the course of a year.
例文
1. The degree provides a thorough grounding in both mathematics and statistics.
この学位課程は数学と統計学のために堅固な基礎を築く。
2.This degree programme is fully accredited by the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
この学位課程は電気工学者学院の検定を受けて完全に合格した。
3.The psychiatrist must learn to maintain an unusual degree of objectivity.
精神科医は、通常以上に客観的な態度を保つことを学ばなければならない。
4.Harriet graduated with a first class degree in literature.
ハリヤット卒業時に文学一級学士号を取得した。
5."A college degree isn 't enough "、said one honors student.