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emeritus

adjective

retired or honorably discharged from active professional duty, but retaining the title of one’s office or position: dean emeritus of the graduate school; editor in chief emeritus.

noun, plural e·mer·i·ti [ih-mer-i-tahy, -tee] /ɪˈmɛr ɪˌtaɪ, -ˌti/.

an emeritus professor, minister, etc.

adjective

(usually postpositive) retired or honourably discharged from full-time work, but retaining one’s title on an honorary basisa professor emeritus

adj.

c.1600, from Latin emeritus “veteran soldier who has served his time,” literally “that has finished work, past service,” past participle of emerere “serve out, complete one’s service,” from ex- “out” (see ex-) + merere “to serve, earn,” from PIE *(s)mer- “to get a share of something” (see merit (n.)). First used of retired professors 1794 in American English.