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For other uses, see Alma mater (disambiguation).
Alma mater statue in front of Low library of Columbia University in New York City
Alma Mater statue at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Alma mater (Latin: "nourishing mother"), pronounced /ˈælmə ˈmeɪtər/ (UK), /ˈɑːlmə ˈmɑːtər/ (US), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele1, and in Medieval Christianity for the Virgin Mary.

In modern times, it is often a school, college, or university attended during one's formative years,1 which is usually interpreted to mean from where one earned one's first degree or doctorate, or both.2 The term may also refer to a song or hymn associated with a university or college3.

The expression is almost always used in the singular, but the Latin plural is almae matres.

On the campus of Columbia University on the steps of Low Library there is a well known bronze statue of Alma Mater by Daniel Chester French. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign also has an Alma Mater statue.

Alma Mater Studiorum ("Nourishing Mother of Studies") is also the motto of the University of Bologna, the oldest university of Europe, founded in 10884.

At Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, their main student government is known as the Alma Mater Society.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd edition
  2. ^ Definition of alma mater
  3. ^ Definition of alma mater at Merriam-Webster Online
  4. ^ University of Bologna

External links

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