PRIVAT DOCENT. In German universities, a private teacher. "The so-called Privat Docenten," remarks Howitt, "are gentlemen who devote themselves to an academical career, who have taken the degree of Doctor, and through a public disputation have acquired the right to deliver lectures on subjects connected with their particular department of science. They receive no salary, but depend upon the remuneration derived from their classes."—Student Life of Germany, Am. ed., p. 29.
PRIVATE. At Harvard College, one of the milder punishments is what is called private admonition, by which a deduction of thirty-two marks is made from the rank of the offender. So called in contradistinction to public admonition, when a deduction is made, and with it a letter is sent to the parent. Often abbreviated into private.
"Reckon on the fingers of your mind the reprimands, deductions, parietals, and privates in store for you."—Oration before H.L. of I.O. of O.F., 1848.
What are parietals, parts, privates now,
To the still calmness of that placid brow?
Class Poem, Harv. Coll., 1849.
PRIVATISSIMUM, pl. PRIVATISSIMI. Literally, most private. In the German universities, an especially private lecture.
To these Privatissimi, as they are called, or especially private lectures, being once agreed upon, no other auditors can be admitted.—Howitt's Student Life of Germany, Am. ed., p. 35.
Then my Privatissimum—(I've been thinking on it
For a long time—and in fact begun it)—
Will cost me 20 Rix-dollars more,
Please send with the ducats I mentioned before.
The Jobsiad, in Lit. World, Vol. IX. p. 281.
The use of a Privatissimum I can't conjecture,
When one is already ten hours at lecture.
Ibid., Vol. IX. p. 448.
PRIZEMAN. In universities and colleges, one who takes a prize.
The Wrangler's glory in his well-earned fame,
The prizeman's triumph, and the plucked man's shame.
The College, in Blackwood's Mag., May, 1849.