inceptor
(ɪnˈsɛptə(r), -ɔː(r))
[a. L. inceptor, agent-n. from incipĕre to begin: cf. obs. F. incepteur (16th c.).]
1. One who incepts or is about to incept in a University.
| 1479 W. Paston [at Oxford] in Paston Lett. No. 830 III. 246, I wold be Inceptor be fore Mydsomer. 1552 Huloet, Inceptours or regent masters in the vniuersities, candidati. 1574 in Peacock Stat. Cambridge (1841) App. A. p. xxi. 1650 in Quincy Hist. Harvard Univ. (1840) I. 518 In case any of the Sophisters, Questionists, or Inceptors, fail in the premises..they shall be deferred to the following year. 1669 Evelyn Diary 10 July, Next followed the Disputations of the Inceptor-Doctors in Medicine..Then disputed the Inceptors of Law..Lastly, Inceptors in Theology. 1706 Hearne Collect. 7 Mar. (O.H.S.) I. 201 Dr. Hudson, then an Inceptor in Arts, bore a Musquet. 1865 Standard 5 July, The proctors [at Oxford] have, this morning, issued..the list of ‘inceptors’ of the present year—by which we mean the list of those who, by proceeding to some superior degree, have made themselves members of convocation. 1895 Rashdall Univ. Europe I. v. 453 The evening concluded with a banquet given at the expense of the Inceptor or a party of Inceptors to the Masters and others. |
2. gen. A beginner. rare—0.
| 1706 Phillips, Inceptor, a Beginner, or Enterprizer. |
Hence inˈceptorship.
| 1831 Sir W. Hamilton Discuss., St. Eng. Univ. (1852) 405 The forms of Inceptorship, and the Examinations of some of the Nations, still connected the Faculty of Arts with this venerable site. |