doc-, doct-

(Latin: teach, instruct)

Docendo discimus. (Latin)
Translation: "We learn by teaching."

A maxim that is obvious to good teachers and which leads to Doce ut discas, "Teach in order to learn."

Docendum et discendum. (Latin motto)
Translation: "To be taught and to learn."

Motto of Blackheath Proprietary School, UK.

docent (s) (noun), docents (pl)
1. A teacher or lecturer at a university who is not a regular faculty member.
2. A lecturer or tour guide in a museum or cathedral.
3. Someone who is a knowledgeable guide; especially, someone who conducts visitors through a museum and delivers a commentary on the exhibitions.

Unlike professors, docents may not actively take part in senior administrative duties; such as, heading a department.

In addition, their stay at the university may be intermittent, whereas professors have permanent positions. Instead of a monthly salary, docents are paid lecturing fees and/or "piece wages".

Docet Omnia. (Latin motto)
Translation: "All things are taught."

Motto of the Collège de France in Paris. Founded in 1530, located in the Latin Quarter of Paris since 1610.

Some say the Collège de France may be able to add the motto: Docet omnia omnes, "All things are taught to all" if they can complete the expansion of their facilities as planned (from a March 17, 1993, article seen in The Chronicle of Higher Education).

The Collège de France was created in 1530 at the request of King Francis I of France. Of humanist inspiration, this school was established as an alternative to the Sorbonne to promote such disciplines as the Hebrew language, Ancient Greek, and Mathematics.

Initially called Collège Royal, and later Collège des Trois Langues (Latin: Collegium Trilingue), Collège National, Collège Impérial, it was named Collège de France in 1870 and it is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.

The Collège does not grant degrees, but has research laboratories, as well as one of the best research libraries in Europe, with sections focusing on history with rare books, humanities, and social sciences; as well as, chemistry and physics.

docile (adjective), more docile, most docile
1. A reference to willingness and being prepared to be taught; teachable.
2. A tendency to follow instructions, directions, or to be managed.
3. Quiet, easy to control, and unlikely to cause trouble.
docility (s) (noun), docilities (pl)
1. The trait of being agreeably submissive and manageable: Some breeds of dogs are known for their docility and gentleness.
2. Quiet and easy to influence, to persuade or to control: There are those who believe that the docility of elephants is remarkable.
doctiloquence (s) (noun), doctiloquences (pl)
That which is spoken in a learned or scholarly way: The professor's doctiloquences during his class lectures indicated his expertise about his subject and also served to inspire his students to strive for greater knowledge.
doctiloquent (adjective), more doctiloquent, most doctiloquent
A reference to someone who talks about a subject which he or she has studied and knows a great deal about: As a doctiloquent student, Anita amazed her university professors and fellow students with her depth of knowledge about her studies; especially, in the fields of science."
doctor (s) (noun), doctors (pl)
1. Someone who is qualified and licensed to give people medical treatment: Alicia was a doctor or physician who was trained in the healing arts and licensed to practice her skills in one of those fields.
2. A title used before the names of health professionals; such as, dentists, veterinarians, and osteopaths: Dr. is used as a title and form of address for a person holding the degree of doctor.
3. A title given to someone who has been awarded a doctorate: To achieve the degree of doctor is considered to be the highest level of an academic award by a university or college.

In the earlier history of the Roman Catholic Church, a doctor was a very eminent and influential theologian.

doctor (verb), doctors; doctored; doctoring
1. To change something in order to make it appear different from the facts or the truth: Samuel doctored the costs of the items in an effort to earn more money.

Bill and Dana were accused of doctoring the company's financial records.

2. To add something; especially, a drug, alcohol, or poison, to food or drink: Yvonne suspected that someone at the party doctored the punch.
3. To treat people when they are ill; such as, medical treatment to an injury, a person, etc.: Ted's mother doctored her little girl's injury until the medical people arrived.
4. To fix something; especially, in a rough or hurried way: Kelly was doctoring the hole in the roof of his house until he could get professional carpenters to fix it properly.
doctoral (adjective) (not comparable)
A reference to the highest academic degree which can be achieved at a university or a college: Lonnie wrote his doctoral dissertation about the many beliefs that people obtain from various religions.
doctorate (s) (noun), doctorates (pl)
The highest degree that a person can earn from a university or college; such as, a PhD, Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy or an American doctorate usually based on at least three years of graduate study and a dissertation): Carol was teaching at the university after having earned her PhD doctorate.

The institution awarding the doctorate has considerable discretion as to the titles it uses for degrees; so, institutional nomenclature may differ even for the same subject. The following are just a sample of the many doctorates that are issued by universities:

  • D.M.D: Doctor of Dental Medicine
  • D.D.S: Doctor of Dental Surgery
  • D.D: Doctor of Divinity (in religion)
  • D.Ed., Ed.D: Doctor of Education
  • M.D: Doctor of Medicine
  • D.Mus, Mus.D: Doctor of Music
  • Mus.D: Doctor of Musical Arts
  • O.D: Doctor of Optometry
  • D.O: Doctor of Osteopathy
  • D.A.: Doctor of Arts
  • D.Chem.: Doctor of Chemistry
  • (D.G.S.: Doctor of Geological Science
  • D.Phil, a British doctorate in Philosophy
  • D.P.H: Doctor of Public Health (in preventive medicine)
  • D.Sc or Sc.D: Doctor of Sciences
  • Th.D: Doctor of Theology (religion)
  • S.T.D: Doctor of Sacred Theology (religion)
  • D.G.S. Doctor of Geological Science
  • D.M.L.: Doctor of Modern Languages
  • D.M.Sc.: Doctor of Medical Science
  • D.C.J.: Doctor of Criminal Justice
  • D.L.S: Doctor of Library Science
  • D.C.J.: Doctor of Criminal Justice
  • D.Sc.H.: Doctor of Science and Hygiene
doctorial (adjective)
A reference to or relating to someone who is working to achieve the highest academic degree he or she can obtain from an educational institution: There are more students who are striving for doctorial certifications.
doctrinaire (s) (noun), doctrinaires (pl)
1. A person inflexibly attached to a practice or theory without regard for its reasonableness: There are doctrinaires who are so set in their ways that nothing can be achieved.

Some politicians have a doctrinaire that is opposed to publicly-run healthcare.

Other doctrinaires in politics have a strong belief or support for publicly-run healthcare.

2. Those who have theories regardless of their suitabilities or usefulness in situations.
doctrinaire (adjective), more doctrinaire, most doctrinaire
1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of someone who is inflexibly attached to a practice or theory: Donald had doctrinaire notions about politics that just didn't make sense.
2. Determined to use a specific theory or method and refusing to accept that there might be a better approach: One senator is a doctrinaire conservative and the other one is a doctrinaire liberal or "progressive" and neither one has a practical approach to solving the financial situatioin.

A reference to doctrinare beliefs that some people will not change nor accept any suggestions from other others nor even when such opinions don't work and have been proven impractical.