lycee
UK[ˈliːseɪ]US[liːˈseɪ]
n
a secondary school in france that prepares students for university.
Etymology
the word 'lycee' entered english directly from french, where it denotes a state secondary school. the french term itself originates from the latin 'lyceum', which referred to a gymnasium or a place for philosophical discussion. this latin word was borrowed from the greek 'lykeion', the name of a gymnasium in ancient athens where aristotle taught, so named because it was near a temple of apollo lykeios. thus, the modern, specific institutional meaning evolved from the name of this ancient center of learning.
Analysis
this word is a direct loanword from french and is not productively segmented in english.
Examples
after completing collège, many french students attend a lycee.
the curriculum at a lycee is rigorous and focused on academic subjects.
she spent a year as an exchange student at a lycee in lyon.