archididascalian
|ar-ki-di-das-ca-li-an|
🇺🇸
/ˌɑɹkɪdɪˈdæskəliən/
🇬🇧
/ˌɑːkɪdɪˈdæskəliən/
chief teacher / head of instruction
Etymology
'archididascalian' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'archi-' and 'didaskalos', where 'archi-' meant 'chief' and 'didaskalos' meant 'teacher'.
'archididascalian' changed from Medieval Latin 'archididascalus' (used in scholarly and ecclesiastical Latin) and eventually became the modern English form 'archididascalian' through learned borrowing.
Initially, it meant 'chief teacher' or 'pertaining to a chief teacher'; over time it evolved into its current use as an adjective meaning 'relating to senior instructional authority' and occasionally as a noun for 'a chief teacher'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chief teacher or head instructor, historically used of a senior school or ecclesiastical official responsible for teaching or oversight of instruction.
Historically, the archididascalian oversaw the training of junior teachers and the standards of instruction.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of a chief teacher or head of instruction; pertaining to senior instructional authority.
The archididascalian committee reviewed the new curriculum proposals before they were adopted.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/06 17:46