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to rusticate

to rusticate

1 9.9
To suspend a student from a college or university as punishment
  • verb
  • /ˈrʌstɪkeɪt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : suspender (de)
  • It seems that he's been... - rusticated.

Examples

  • For the rest of the spring term at least, Harvey will have to be rusticated.

  • Students who are found violating the honor code may face the possibility of being rusticated for a semester.

  • After being caught cheating, he was temporarily rusticated from the university.

  • Due to his poor behavior, she was rusticated from college and had to return home.

Synonyms

to suspend
vsto rusticate
  • Formal
289 4.2

To stop someone from going to work or school for a time

is specific to universities and often used as punishment
to send down
vsto rusticate
  • Jargon
7 8.6

Make a student leave college or university for a short time as punishment

is an older British term for the same act

How Severe

to expel
194 5.0
to rusticate
  • Archaic
1 9.9
to reprimand
  • Formal
33 6.1
to warn
1.0

Surface Forms

rusticate infinitive
rusticated past
rusticated past participle
rusticating present participle
rusticates third person singular

Morphology

rusticate = rustic (semi-transparent) = rustic + ate

The university suspension sense historically means 'send to the country' (i.e., make rustic), but understanding it requires cultural/historical knowledge of the punishment practice.

Etymology

Rusticate comes from the Latin root rus meaning 'country' and the word rustic meaning 'rural'. Historically a university would 'rusticate' a student by sending them to the country for a time, which is why the word also means a temporary suspension from college.