Opsimath

An opsimath can refer to a person who begins, or continues, to study or learn late in life.^[1] The word is derived from the Greek οψε (opse), meaning 'late' and μανθανω (manthano), meaning 'learn'.^[2]

Opsimathy was once frowned upon, used as a put down with implications of laziness,^[3] and considered less effective by educators than early learning.^[4] The emergence of "opsimath clubs"^[5] has demonstrated that opsimathy has shed much of this negative connotation,^[6] and that this approach may, in fact, be desirable. ^[7]

Notable opsimaths include Sir Henry Rawlinson, the fictitious character Sir Henry Rawlinson, Grandma Moses and Cato the Elder who learned Greek only at the age of 80.

References

1. ^ The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, page 2010. Oxford University Press, 2002.
2. ^ Bowler, Peter: "The Superior Person's Book of Words", page 101. Bloomsbury, 2002.
3. ^ FirstThings.com essay regarding "exposure" of opsimathy, implying negativity. (URL accessed April 15, 2006)
4. ^ nifl.gov thread concerning opsimathy. (URL accessed April 15, 2006)
5. ^ Simon Fraser News reports an "opsimath club". (URL accessed April 15, 2006)
6. ^ Glasgow Caledonian University speech aggrandizing opsimathy. (URL accessed April 15, 2006)
7. ^ NIACE.org promotes adult learning. (URL accessed April 15, 2006)