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summa cum laude

[soo m-uh koo m lou-dey, -duh, -dee; suhm-uh kuhm law-dee]
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adverb
  1. with highest praise: used in diplomas to grant the highest of three special honors for grades above the average.
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Compare cum laude, magna cum laude.

Origin of summa cum laude

First recorded in 1895–1900, summa cum laude is from the Latin word summā cum laude
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for summa cum laude

summa cum laude

adverb, adjective
  1. mainly US with the utmost praise: the highest of three designations for above-average achievement in examinations. In Britain it is sometimes used to designate a first-class honours degreeCompare cum laude, magna cum laude
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Word Origin for summa cum laude

from Latin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for summa cum laude

1900, Latin, literally "with highest praise."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper