alumna
UK[əˈlʌmnə]US[əˈlʌmnə]
n
A female former student of a particular school, college, or university.
Morpheme Breakdown
alumn
a
alumn
foster son, pupil
a
feminine suffix
Etymology
The word alumna originates directly from Latin, where 'alumnus' was a masculine noun for a foster son or pupil, derived from the verb 'alere' meaning "to nourish" or "to rear." The feminine form 'alumna' was created by applying the standard feminine suffix '-a.' This etymological sense of being nourished intellectually by an institution carried into English academic usage in the late 19th century. The term specifically designates a female graduate, preserving the Latin grammatical gender distinction in its modern, specialized meaning.
Analysis
Structure: alumn (foster son, pupil) + a (feminine suffix)
- alumn: Latin origin, meaning "foster son, pupil, nursling." It functions as the core root denoting a person nurtured or educated by an institution.
- a: Latin origin, a feminine singular noun suffix, indicating the gender of the person referred to.
Examples
She is a distinguished alumna of the university, often returning to mentor current students.
The alumnae association organized a networking event for recent graduates.
As an alumna, she received regular updates about campus developments.