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Baethcke's transcription XXXIX. DE STUDENTE. XL. DE DOT. |
Footnotes: (1) (2) (3) (4)
The first part of the study was grammar, rhetoric and dialectic, collectively known as trivium (Latin: three roads). These language studies build the foundation for further study. Even today trivium means "something that's easy to get to".
The students were now known as baccalaureus, (like today's bachelors). The original meaning of the word was "squire" or "young knight". The etymological root is unknown but since it sounds like bacca lauri (Latin for laurel berry), it became a tradition to "crown" the students with laurel leaves (even if it should have been laurel berries).
The next part of the study was the mathematical branches: astronomy, geometry, arithmetic and music - known as kvadrivium, four roads. After this the students became Magister artium liberalium or "master of arts".
The death mass started with "Placebo Domino in regione vivorum" (I shall please the Lord in the land of the living). To "say placebo (Domino)" means to say whatever people wants to hear. Even though placebo only means, "I will please" (please and placebo share the same etymological root) it soon came to mean, "I will please through deception" - a meaning it still retains in today's medical business.