seminary

[sem-uh-ner-ee]

noun

plural

seminaries 

1. a special school providing education in theology, religious history, etc., primarily to prepare students for the priesthood, ministry, or rabbinate.

2. a school, especially one of higher grade.

3. a school of secondary or higher level for young women.

4. seminar.

5. a place of origin and propagation.

   a seminary of discontent.

seminary

/ ˈsɛmɪnərɪ /

noun

1. an academy for the training of priests, rabbis, etc

2. another word for seminar

3. a place where something is grown

Other Word Forms

• seminarial adjective
• preseminary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of seminary¹

1400–50; late Middle English: seed plot, nursery < Latin sēminārium, equivalent to sēmin- (stem of sēmen ) seed, semen + -ārium -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of seminary¹

C15: from Latin sēminārium a nursery garden, from sēmen seed

Example Sentences

“I am looking forward to the silence finally stopping, because 54 years of silence is a long time,” said Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, the abbot of the seminary.

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It also lowers enlistment quotas and facilitates exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men who study in religious seminaries known as yeshivas.

Read more on Barron's

The IRGC, the speaker of the parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, and an entire range of informal actors in religious foundations and seminaries also have their say.

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Independent congregations, underground seminaries and all missionary activity remained strictly prohibited.

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The victim said the unwanted "caresses" and "kisses" were made when he was between the ages of 14 and 21 during camps and at the seminary, the report said.

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Related Words

• academy 
• association 
• business 
• clinic 
• company 
• establishment 
• foundation 
• hospital 
• institute 
• school 
• society 
• system 
• university