(1) in an academical context measured from the date of graduation, without reference to biological age. In earlier years seniority might have an important bearing on eligibility for fellowships, and so on, but any remaining significance is largely ritual. In medieval and early modern times those graduating after Ash Wednesday were deemed to have graduated in the following year, which explains, for example, Venn listing a man as a graduate of 1580 when he actually graduated in July 1579; (2) The body of senior Fellows responsible for the government of certain colleges, notably Trinity, St John’s and King’s.
