faculty
nouncommon in dialogue
- United States//ˈfæk.əl.ti//
The academic staff at schools, colleges, universities or not-for-profit research institutes, as opposed to the students or support staff.
noun
- 1
The academic staff at schools, colleges, universities or not-for-profit research institutes, as opposed to the students or support staff.
- 2
A division of a university.
She transferred from the Faculty of Science to the Faculty of Medicine.
- 3
An ability, power, or skill.
He lived until he reached the age of 90 with most of his faculties intact.
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty!
If I will aske meere Philosophers, what the soule is, I shall finde amongst them, that will tell me, it is nothing, but the temperament and harmony, and just and equall composition of the Elements in the body, which produces all those faculties which we ascribe to the soule […]
The preſent Argument is the moſt abſtracted that ever I engaged in, it ſtrains my Faculties to their higheſt Stretch; and I deſire the Reader to attend with utmoſt perpenſity; For, I now proceed to unravel this knotty Point.
- 4
An authority, power, or privilege conferred by a higher authority.
Unless he has bi-ritual faculties, the Latin priest must baptize and confirm the Eastern rite person, whether infant or adult, according to the liturgical books of the Latin church ( canon 846 , §2 ).
- 5
A licence to make alterations to a church.
- 6
The members of a profession.
Etymology
From Middle English faculte (“power, property”), from Old French faculte, from Latin facultas (“capability, ability, skill, abundance, plenty, stock, goods, property; in Medieval Latin also a body of teachers”), another form of facilitas (“easiness, facility, etc.”), from facul, another form of facilis (“easy, facile”); see facile. Doublet of facility.
Forms
- plural
- faculties
faculty · The academic staff at schools, colleges, universities or not-for-profit research institutes, as opposed to the students or support staff.
fad · A phenomenon that becomes popular for a very short time.fade · A golf shot that curves intentionally to the player's right…faded · That has lost some of its former vividness and colour.