A Collection of College Words and Customs | Page 6

degree given by
universities and colleges. It is usually written M.A., q.v.
ANALYSIS. In the following passage, the word analysis is used as a verb; the meaning
being directly derived from that of the noun of the same orthography.
If any resident Bachelor, Senior, or Junior Sophister shall neglect to analysis in his course,
he shall be punished not exceeding ten shillings.--Peirce's Hist. Harv. Univ., App., p.
129.
ANNARUGIANS. At Centre College, Kentucky, is a society called the Annarugians,
"composed," says a correspondent "of the wildest of the College boys, who, in the most
fantastic disguises, are always on hand when a wedding is to take place, and join in a
most tremendous Charivari, nor can they be forced to retreat until they have received a
due proportion of the sumptuous feast prepared."
APOSTLES. At Cambridge, England, the last twelve on the list of Bachelors of Arts; a
degree lower than the [Greek: oi polloi] "Scape-goats of literature, who have at length
scrambled through the pales and discipline of the Senate-House, without being plucked,
and miraculously obtained the title of A.B."--Gradus ad Cantab.
At Columbian College, D.C., the members of the Faculty are called after the names of the
Apostles.
APPLICANT. A diligent student. "This word," says Mr. Pickering, in his Vocabulary,
"has been much used at our colleges. The English have the verb to apply, but the noun
applicant, in this sense, does not appear to be in use among them. The only Dictionary in
which I have found it with this meaning is Entick's, in which it is given under the word
applier. Mr. Todd has the term applicant, but it is only in the sense of 'he who applies for
anything.' An American reviewer, in his remarks on Mr. Webster's Dictionary, takes
notice of the word, observing, that it 'is a mean word'; and then adds, that 'Mr. Webster
has not explained it in the most common sense, a hard student.'--Monthly Anthology, Vol.
VII. p. 263. A correspondent observes: 'The utmost that can be said of this word among
the English is, that perhaps it is occasionally used in conversation; at least, to signify one
who asks (or applies) for something.'" At present the word applicant is never used in the
sense of a diligent student, the common signification being that given by Mr. Webster,
"One who applies; one who makes request; a petitioner."
APPOINTEE. One who receives an appointment at a college exhibition or
commencement.
The appointees are writing their pieces.--Scenes and Characters in College, New Haven,
1847, p. 193.
To the gratified appointee,--if his ambition for the honor has the intensity it has in some

bosoms,--the day is the proudest he will ever see.--Ibid., p. 194.
I suspect that a man in the first class of the "Poll" has usually read mathematics to more
profit than many of the "appointees," even of the "oration men" at Yale.--Bristed's Five
Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 382.
He hears it said all about him that the College appointees are for the most part poor dull
fellows.--Ibid., p. 389.
APPOINTMENT. In many American colleges, students to whom are assigned a part in
the exercises of an exhibition or commencement, are said to receive an appointment.
Appointments are given as a reward for superiority in scholarship.
As it regards college, the object of appointments is to incite to study, and promote good
scholarship.--Scenes and Characters in College, New Haven, 1847, p. 69.
If e'er ye would take an "appointment" young man, Beware o' the "blade" and "fine
fellow," young man! Yale Lit. Mag., Vol. XV. p. 210.
Some have crammed for appointments, and some for degrees. Presentation Day Songs,
Yale Coll., June 14, 1854.
See JUNIOR APPOINTMENTS.
APPROBAMUS. Latin; we approve. A certificate, given to a student, testifying of his
fitness for the performance of certain duties.
In an account of the exercises at Dartmouth College during the Commencement season in
1774, Dr. Belknap makes use of this word in the following connection: "I attended, with
several others, the examination of Joseph Johnson, an Indian, educated in this school,
who, with the rest of the New England Indians, are about moving up into the country of
the Six Nations, where they have a tract of land fifteen miles square given them. He
appeared to be an ingenious, sensible, serious young man; and we gave him an
approbamus, of which there is a copy on the next page. After which, at three P.M., he
preached in the college hall, and a collection of twenty-seven dollars and a half was made
for him. The auditors were agreeably entertained.
"The approbamus is as follows."--Life of Jeremy Belknap, D.D., pp. 71, 72.
APPROBATE. To express approbation of; to manifest a liking, or degree of
satisfaction.--Webster.
The cause of this battle every man