▪ I. † ˈseminar1 Sc. Obs.
[ad. L. sēminārium: see -ar2.]
= seminary n.1
| 1573 Tyrie Refut. Knox 44 b, But he of his prouidence hes reseruit sindrie, as ane seminar, be quhome he hes prorogat his doctrine to the posteritie. |
▪ II. seminar2
(ˈsɛmɪnɑːr)
[Ger., ad. L. sēminārium seminary n.1]
1. a. In German universities (hence in certain British and American universities), a select group of advanced students associated for special study and original research under the guidance of a professor. Also transf., a class that meets for systematic study under the direction of a teacher.
| 1889 A. S. Hill Our English v. 209 In New York and Washington, if I am not misinformed, ‘seminars’ are periodically held, at which a clever woman coaches other clever women in the political, literary, and ethical topics of the day. 1892 Daily News 3 Aug. 6/1 [University Extension meeting at Oxford] A seminar is being organised in connection with the economic course, and the students will write essays and have tutorial supervision. 1893 Chicago Advance Apr. 27 The Seminar..is a society for the prosecution of independent work in some chosen field. There are to be eight of these Seminars next year. 1911 Expositor July 16 It has been well dealt with in the brilliant volume of Essays from Dr. Sanday's Seminar. |
b. A conference of specialists; also, more generally, a course of instruction for managers, etc. orig. U.S.
| 1944 Sun (Baltimore) 21 Sept. 6/2 Problems of condemnation for the temporary war use of property will be featured at a seminar conducted by the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. 1969 Listener 10 Apr. 482/2 For the first time in its history, the Conservative Party has held a one-day seminar, not on Exports, or on Trade Unions, or on Defence, but on the Arts. 1982 REMARC Database News July 1 Key members of the Scottish Library Network..attended a REMARC seminar at the Carrollton Press data-entry facility at Irvine, Scotland. |
2. attrib.
| 1948 Sun (Baltimore) 12 May 12/3 Two years ago he started the personal campaign that took him into large communities and small, and he developed a sort of ‘seminar’ method of question-and-answer discussion at luncheons, meetings of students and similar gatherings. 1959 Seminar-paper [see fence-sitting s.v. fence n. 11]. 1977 J. D. Douglas in Douglas & Johnson Existential Sociol. i. 27 One can even see the feelings leading to important actions, such as separating from a lover or starting a seminar workshop to deal with the feelings. 1981 Times Lit. Suppl. 6 Feb. 136/4 The names of these daunting authors..make an occasional modest appearance on reading-lists and in seminar-rooms. |