Word of the Day

: March 27, 2008

colleague

noun KAH-leeg

What It Means

: an associate in a profession or in a civil or ecclesiastical office

colleague in Context

Rochelle's creativity, professional demeanor, and ability to get things done soon earned her the respect of her colleagues.

Did You Know?

Which of the following words come from the same source as "colleague"?

college    legacy    collaborate    allegation    collar    relegate    delegate

It might be easier to guess if you know that the ancestor in question is "legare," a Latin verb meaning "to choose or send as a deputy or emissary" or "to bequeath." All of the words in the list above except "collaborate" (which comes from the Latin "collaborare," meaning "to labor together") and "collar" (from "collum," Latin for "neck") are descendants of "legare."