degree
UK[dɪˈɡriː]US[dɪˈɡriː]
n
a unit for measuring angles or temperature
n
the amount or level of something
n
an academic qualification awarded by a university or college
Morpheme Breakdown
de
gree
de
gree
Etymology
The word 'degree' entered English from Old French 'degre', meaning a step, stair, or rank. The Old French term derived from the Vulgar Latin 'degradus', itself a combination of the Latin prefix 'de-' (down, away) and 'gradus' (step). This literal sense of a "step down" or a "step away" evolved to signify a stage in a progression or a point on a scale. Over time, this concept was abstracted to measure angles, temperature, intensity, and finally, academic achievement, all representing distinct stages or levels on a continuum.
Analysis
Structure: de + gree
de- (Latin prefix: down, away, off, completely); gree (from Latin 'gradus': step, grade, degree)
Examples
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
There is a high degree of confidence in the results.
She earned a master's degree in engineering.