The word Sophomore comes from two greek words: Sophos, meaning wise, and Moros, meaning fool. So it actually means "wise fool."

You can either be a sophomore in High School or College. In High School it refers to the 10th grade (in most school systems anyway). In College it's your second year.

The order of procession goes Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior.

Soph"o*more (?), n. [Probably fr. soph or sophister + Gr. foolish. The word was probably introduced into the United States at an early date, from the University of Cambridge, England. Among the cant terms at that university, as given in the Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, we find Soph-Mor as "the next distinctive appellation to Freshman," but the term has now almost ceased to be known at the English university from whence it came.]

One belonging to the second of the four classes in an American college, or one next above a freshman.

[Formerly written also sophimore.]

 

© Webster 1913.

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