emerita
emerita Lexical Profile
emerita Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Retired from an official or academic position, especially as a female university professor or minister, and permitted to retain one's title as an honor.
"As a professor emerita of biochemistry, she continues to mentor graduate students and publish research papers."
• noun
A woman who has retired from professional or academic life, such as a female university professor, but is permitted to retain the title of her office as an honor.
"Several distinguished emeritae were invited to speak at the university's centennial convocation."
Word Nuance & Usage
Traditionally used specifically for women (with 'emeritae' as the plural) as the feminine counterpart to 'emeritus', though 'emeritus' is also frequently used as a gender-neutral term. As an adjective, it is most commonly placed immediately after the noun it modifies (e.g., 'professor emerita').
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed directly from Latin 'emerita', the feminine singular of 'emeritus' (having earned one's discharge by service), from the verb 'emereri' (to serve out one's term).