Alma mater - what is it in the past and present?

Many must have heard the expression "alma mater." What this is and what the term literally means, few know. Some will say that he is associated with his mother, and will be not far from the truth. The meaning of “alma mater”, the origin of the term and its synonyms will be described in the article.

Meaning and synonyms

Alma Mater - what is it? In dictionaries, this phrase is interpreted as an educational institution. The synonyms for the expression under study are the following:

1. Institute.
2. University
3. College.
4. University
5. Educational institution.

For example, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where the great Russian poet A. S. Pushkin studied at the time of his youth, is often called the “alma mater” of the author. A reasonable question may arise, is it right to call the modern school “alma mater?” And although the word “school” does not appear in synonyms for this term, it can be called that. In fact, the matter is not in the rank of the educational institution, but in the upbringing and baggage of knowledge and spiritual values ​​obtained during training.

Latin translation

Continuing to consider what “alma mater” is, it is necessary to turn to more ancient sources than an explanatory dictionary, namely, to decipher a phrase. “Nursing mother” - this is how the studied term is translated from Latin. There are also similar translations - meaning “mother-nurse” or “beneficent mother”. So lovingly since the Middle Ages were called educational institutions.

First of all, these were universities located in Europe, and the name “alma mater” was informal. This term conveyed a kind and gentle attitude to the educational institution, which gave students the path to a new, often wealthy life.

Initially, European universities gave their students an education that was based on philosophy and theology, and in fact - on Christianity. Thus, teachers seemed to nourish their students with knowledge about life, good and evil.

Relevance now

Alma Mater - what is it now? In the modern world, this phrase should be understood as the figurative name of any educational institution, most often it refers to a university, university, etc.

Among professional scientists, “alma mater” is not only the institute in which they studied, but also the one where they began their scientific work. As you can see, this expression in the modern world has not lost its meaning and is used in conversation as necessary. Today you can hear a close-by-meaning expression “soak with mother’s milk”, which means to know this or that truth from an early age.