335: pedagogue and pedant Nov 8, 2015
The words 'pedagogue' and 'pedant' are related through etymology, even
though the meanings are fairly different. A pedagogue is "a teacher,
especially a strict one", while a pedant is a person who is overly
concerned with minor details and rules", which are not mutually
exclusive.
'Pedant comes from the first element of Latin word 'paedagogus', which comes from the Greek paidagōgos (giving us 'pedagogue') denoting a slave who accompanied a child to school. This Greek word comes from 'pais' meaning 'paid-boy’ and 'agōgos' which means ‘guide’.
'Pedant comes from the first element of Latin word 'paedagogus', which comes from the Greek paidagōgos (giving us 'pedagogue') denoting a slave who accompanied a child to school. This Greek word comes from 'pais' meaning 'paid-boy’ and 'agōgos' which means ‘guide’.