Docent

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdəʊ.sÉ™nt/
• US IPA: /ˈdoÊŠ.sÉ™nt/

Origin

From Latin docēntem, present participle of docēre ("to teach").

Full definition of docent

Adjective

1. Instructive; that teaches.

Noun

1. A teacher or lecturer at some American colleges or universities.
• 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 1212:Zermelo had been a docent at Göttingen when Kit was there and, like Russell, had been preoccupied with the set of all sets that are not members of themselves.
2. (chiefly US) A tour guide at a museum, art gallery, historical site, etc.The docent greeted the visitors and welcomed them to the Louvre.

Related terms

• docile
• doctor
• doctorate
• doctrinaire
• doctrinal
• doctrine
• document
• indoctrinate