seminary

[ sem-uh-ner-ee ]

noun

, plural sem·i·nar·ies.

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 ( def 1 ).
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. See seminar
   another word for seminar
3. a place where something is grown

Derived Forms

• ˌsemiˈnarial, adjective

Other Words From

• semi·nari·al adjective
• pre·semi·nary adjective noun plural preseminaries

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

Musically gifted as a singer and violinist, Scott attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she met King, who was a seminary student nearby at Boston University.

From Washington Post

In 2007, she was rejected by a seminary because she came out in her application.

From Washington Blade

As the conflict intensified, Derkach left his advisory role in the Orthodox Church and stopped teaching at the seminary.

From TIme

After seminary in the Midwest, he was sent to Cambridge to preach in Swedish to a largely immigrant flock.

From Washington Post

At the time, Waldman was a teacher at the all-girls Beth Jacobs Teachers Seminary in Brooklyn.

From The Daily Beast

He holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology from Emory University.

From The Daily Beast

The pope who had endured the Nazi horror in a Polish seminary took special note of “sufferings inflicted upon Jews.”

From The Daily Beast

Better that I leave the seminary than stay and become a sourpuss.

From The Daily Beast

I came here to be immersed in a beautiful Rabbinical-seminary town, around inspiring people with beautiful values.

From The Daily Beast

He was one of the founders of Andover theological seminary, and contributed altogether about $125,000 to that institution.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he returned to his province, entered the seminary, and became a sub-deacon of the diocese of Nueva Segovia.

From Project Gutenberg

South of this is the Lutheran Theological Seminary, beautifully situated, in front of a shady grove of oaks.

From Project Gutenberg

It was five minutes past one when the signal-gun for the opening of the battle was given by the Rebels on Seminary Hill.

From Project Gutenberg

Both had been seminary pupils prior to Mr. Carruths death, but expenses had to be curtailed at once.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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