Following are two of the definitions I have chosen to show you:
In Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of the English Language says;
“EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.”
In today’s Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary it says;
Education Pronunciation:\e-jə-kā-shən\ Function: noun Date:1531
1 a: the action or process of educating or of being educated ; also : a stage of such a process b: the knowledge and development resulting from an educational process 2: the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in schools — ed·u·ca·tion·al\-shnəl, -shə-nəl\ adjective ed·u·ca·tion·al·ly \-ē\ adverb
Random Thoughts of a Librarian-in-Training said, “‘educate’ comes from the Latin ex + ducere, meaning literally “to lead away” indicating that the process is one designed to take somebody from their previous activities and instill them in new, better pursuits.
The main difference which I see is that the first definition is trying to tell people how they should educate children whereas the second is simply doing the job of a dictionary and explaining what education is. Perhaps more light might be shed on the subject by Merriam-Webster’s definition of “educating” or of being “educated” as the definition hinges on the definitions of these two words.”
Then I decided to look up the words educating and educated. I have put those definitions below; they are from the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary.
Educate Pronunciation: \ˈe-jə-ˌkāt\ Function: verb Inflected Form(s): ed·u·cat·ed; ed·u·cat·ing Etymology: Middle English, to rear, from Latin educatus, past participle of educare to rear, educate, from educere to lead forth — more at educe
Date: 15th century transitive verb
1 a: to provide schooling for
Educated Function: adjective Date: 1588
1: having an education ; especially : having an education beyond the average
— ed·u·cat·ed·ness noun
I think the definition of education from Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary encompasses more types of learning and is a little more religious. The Miriam-Webster online dictionary is very general and scientific and it should have included the definitions of educating and educated in with the definition of education. I agree with all that Random Thoughts of a Librarian-in-Training has to say. That leaves me to ask you. What kind of definition do you like, the kind that tells people how to educate or the one that is as basic as it can get?
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