The academic year at the University Cambridge consists of three terms: Michaelmas, Lent and Easter. For more details, consult the term date pages of the university. What are these terms called in Latin? I would prefer to see actual use examples, newer or older. I assume that Cambridge has sufficient history in using Latin that Latin versions of the names do exist.
asked Aug 30, 2016 at 7:36
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1I see no alternative to them comming from Christian liturgy, thus Lent-->Quadragessima, Easter-->Pascha/tempus paschale. The connection is more loose with Michaelmas (ethymologically, Mass of [Saint] Michael), since it corresponds to a single day: Festus Sancti Michaelis. The names seem to be previous to the Reformation. See also this.– RafaelAug 30, 2016 at 13:14
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@Rafael, I agree now that they probably have Christian origin. Before googling in preparation of this question I didn't know that Lent and Michaelmas meant something. However, it is not clear what the exact Latin names are, and how one might say "I took an algebra class in the Michaelmas/Lent/Easter term" in Latin.– Joonas Ilmavirta ♦Aug 30, 2016 at 13:25
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In the societas christiana of the High Middle Ages it was very common to divide the year (and day) according to liturgy. Education was broadly in charge of monks and priests. While I write this, @fdb posted an answer regarding the word for term which I didn't know (I would have chosen something like bimensis in the lack of a sourced expression).– RafaelAug 30, 2016 at 13:35
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1 Answer
These phrases come from English Law Latin, which divides the Legal Year into four quarters: Terminus Paschae, Terminus Trinitatis, Terminus Sancti Michaelis, Terminus Sancti Hilarii.
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Just to be sure: Would Lent be called Terminus Sancti Hilarii? The connection to the English version is much less obvious than for the other two.– Joonas Ilmavirta ♦Aug 30, 2016 at 13:39
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2@JoonasIlmavirta. Yes exactly. In what we in Cambridge call “the other place” (i.e., Oxford) the three academic terms are called Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity.– fdbAug 30, 2016 at 13:43
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@fdb, excellent, thank you! (I'm much more familiar with Cambridge than the other place, so the Oxford term names were news to me.)– Joonas Ilmavirta ♦Aug 30, 2016 at 13:46