have received the adjunct mor ([Greek:  moros]) to their names, either as one which they courted for the reason mentioned above, or as one given them in sport, for the supposed exhibition of inflated feeling in entering on their new honors.  The term, thus applied, seems to have passed, at a very early period, from Cambridge in England to Cambridge in America, as ‘the next distinctive appellation to Freshman,’ and thus to have been attached to the second of the four classes in our American colleges; while it has now almost ceased to be known, even as a cant word, at the parent institution in England whence it came.  This derivation of the word is rendered more probable by the fact, that the early spelling was, to a great extent at least, Soph_i_more, as appears from the manuscripts of President Stiles of Yale College, and the records of Harvard College down to the period of the American Revolution.  This would be perfectly natural if Soph or Sophister was considered as the basis of the word, but can hardly be explained if the ordinary derivation had then been regarded as the true one.”

Some further remarks on this word may be found in the Gentleman’s Magazine, above referred to, 1795, Vol.  LXV. p. 818.

SOPHOMORE COMMENCEMENT.  At Princeton College, it has long been the custom for the Sophomore Class, near the time of the Commencement at the close of the Senior year, to hold a Commencement in imitation of it, at which burlesque and other exercises, appropriate to the occasion, are performed.  The speakers chosen are a Salutatorian, a Poet, an Historian, who reads an account of the doings of the Class up to that period, a Valedictorian, &c., &c.  A band of music is always in attendance.  After the addresses, the Class partake of a supper, which is usually prolonged to a very late hour.  In imitation of the Sophomore Commencement, Burlesque Bills, as they are called, are prepared and published by the Juniors, in which, in a long and formal programme, such subjects and speeches are attributed to the members of the Sophomore Class as are calculated to expose their weak points.

SOPHOMORIC, SOPHOMORICAL.  Pertaining to or like a Sophomore.

  Better to face the prowling panther’s path,
  Than meet the storm of Sophomoric wrath.
    Harvardiana, Vol.  IV. p. 22.

We trust he will add by his example no significancy to that pithy word, “Sophomoric.”—­Sketches of Williams Coll., p. 63.

Another meaning, derived, it would appear, from the characteristics of the Sophomore, yet not very creditable to him, is bombastic, inflated in style or manner.—­J.C.  Calhoun.

Students are looked upon as being necessarily Sophomorical in literary matters.—­Williams Quarterly, Vol.  II. p. 84.

The Professor told me it was rather Sophomorical.—­Sketches of Williams Coll., p. 74.