professor
[pruh-fes-er]
- a teacher of the highest academic rank in a college or university, who has been awarded the title Professor in a particular branch of learning; a full professor: a professor of Spanish literature.
- any teacher who has the rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor.
- a teacher.
- an instructor in some art or skilled sport: a professor of singing; a professor of boxing.
- a person who professes his or her sentiments, beliefs, etc.
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Origin of professor
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for professorial
Contemporary Examples
Carroll, 56, has a professorial look about him, with a salt and pepper Ken Burns-style haircut, a beard and rimless glasses.
When he speaks he is casual and spontaneous, as if talking to an old friend, but can also at times still have a professorial tone.
Paul was professorial, with his history and geopolitical lessons on Islam.
To make matters worse, says the source close to Hagel, the White House also worried about Hagel being too professorial.
He was professorial, elliptical, vague, abstract; Romney appeared plausible, concerned, compassionate, and energetic.
Historical Examples
The same king endowed three professorial chairs with ₱ 10,000 each.
The Philippine IslandsJohn Foreman
Even for his classroom he had no platitudes, no stock of professorial anecdotes.
My AntoniaWilla Cather
Mackintosh would have been most at home in a professorial chair.
The English Utilitarians, Volume II (of 3)Leslie Stephen
Consider, first, the repute that attaches to the professorial title.
Philosophy and The Social ProblemWill Durant
But this is not reprehensible; it is admirable—from the professorial point of view.
The Letters of William James, Vol. 1William James
professor
- the principal lecturer or teacher in a field of learning at a university or college; a holder of a university chair
- mainly US and Canadian any teacher in a university or collegeSee also associate professor, assistant professor, full professor
- a person who claims skill and instructs others in some sport, occupation, etc
- a person who professes his opinions, beliefs, etc
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Word Origin
C14: from Medieval Latin: one who has made his profession in a religious order, from Latin: a public teacher; see profess
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for professorial
professor
n.
late 14c., "one who teaches a branch of knowledge," from Old French professeur (14c.) and directly from Latin professor "person who professes to be an expert in some art or science; teacher of highest rank," agent noun from profiteri "lay claim to, declare openly" (see profess). As a title prefixed to a name, it dates from 1706. Short form prof is recorded from 1838.
Professor. One professing religion. This canting use of the word comes down from the Elizabethan period, but is obsolete in England. [Thornton, "American Glossary," 1912]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper