erudition

First attested in the 15th Century. From Middle French érudition, from Latin eruditio (“an instructing, learning, erudition”), from erudire (“to instruct, educate, cultivate”, literally “free from rudeness”), from e (“out”) + rudis (“rude”).

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛɹʊˈdɪʃən/

erudition (countable and uncountable, plural eruditions)

1. Profound knowledge acquired from learning and scholarship.
2. The refinement, polish and knowledge that education confers.

• (profound knowledge): knowledge, information, learning, lore, scholarship, scholarism

• erudite
• rude

• erudition in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• erudition in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
• erudition at OneLook Dictionary Search