Crossword clues for valedictorian
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Valedictorian \Val`e*dic*to"ri*an\, n. One who pronounces a valedictory address; especially, in American colleges, the student who pronounces the valedictory of the graduating class at the annual commencement, usually the student who ranks first in scholarship.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"student who pronounces the oration at commencement exercises of his or her class," 1832, American English, from valedictory + -ian. As an adjective from 1834.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context US Canada properly English) The individual in a graduating class who delivers the farewell or valedictory address, usually the person who graduates with the highest grades. 2 (context US Canada colloquial English) The individual in a graduating class who graduates with the highest grades.
WordNet
n. the student with the best grades who delivers the valedictory at graduation [syn: valedictory speaker]
Wikipedia
Valedictorian is an academic title of success used in the United States, Canada, Central America, and the Philippines for the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony (called a valedictory). The chosen valedictorian is often the student with the highest ranking among his/her graduating class. The term is an Anglicised derivation of the Latin vale dicere ("to say farewell"), historically rooted in the valedictorian's traditional role as the final speaker at the graduation ceremony. So the valedictory address generally is considered a final farewell to classmates, before they disperse to pursue their individual paths after graduating.
In Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, India, and the United Kingdom, the title valedictorian is not used frequently. In Australia, the title is sometimes awarded to a member of a graduating university class on the basis of contribution to the school rather than academic success. The highest-ranking student in a graduating class is often referred to as dux (Latin for "leader"), and may or may not give a speech. In France the term Major de promotion ("first in class") is used, although the term is not related to any ceremonial role, as there are rarely graduation ceremonies in schools or universities.
Usage examples of "valedictorian".
And the tall fair-skinned senior boy who was valedictorian as- cended rapidly to the stage and crossed to the podium in his cap and gown, his posture, manner, stride suggesting an upright and very mobile pair oi scissors.
Because the salutatorian the sap who would have made valedictorian if not for Aurorawas none other than Nathan McBride.
After graduating as valedictorian of his class at Bandon High School and completing one year of college, he married young.
And I, the girl valedictorian, in a black academic gown of light wool like a nightgown and a pasteboard-cloth black cap, its tassel swinging dangerously near my left eye.
He was a straight-A student, valedictorian of his graduating class, humble in spite of his natural gifts and achievements, a real people-loving guy, handsome, charming, funny.
Especially Amber Cheeseman, who is this year’s senior class valedictorian, and who, even though she is much shorter than me, is a hapkido brown belt, and could easily pound my face in.
She had been valedictorian of her class in Ottumwa, a very bright girl who should have gone on to college, her teachers said.
She had graduated valedictorian of her high school class that year, and in the fall (quelle surprise!
The Class contained no fewer than 287 high school valedictorians, each painfully aware that only one of them was good enough to match that achievement at Harvard.