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| adj. 1. Worthy of the greatest honor or distinction: “The nation's pediatrician laureate is preparing to lay down his black bag” (James Traub). 2. Crowned or decked with laurel as a mark of honor. 3. Archaic Made of laurel sprigs, as a wreath or crown. n. 1. One honored or awarded a prize for great achievements especially in the arts or sciences: a Nobel laureate. 2. A poet laureate. [Middle English, from Latin laureātus, adorned with laurel, from laurea, crown of laurel, from feminine of laureus, of laurel, from laurus, laurel, probably from a Mediterranean substrate source akin to the source of Greek daphnē, laurel; see DAPHNE.] laure·ate·ship′ n. |
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