IVORYTOWER

Ivory tower

The term ivory tower originates in the Biblical Song of Solomon and was later used as an epithet for Mary. From the 19th century it has been used to designate a world or atmosphere where intellectuals engage in pursuits that are disconnected from the practical concerns of everyday life. As such, it usually carries pejorative connotations of a wilful disconnect from the everyday world; esoteric, over-specialized, or even useless research; and academic elitism, if not outright condescension. In American English usage it is also used as shorthand for academia or the university, particularly departments of the humanities.

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ivory tower

Noun

  1. A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.

Adjective

  1. Separated from reality and practical matters; overly academic.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: ivory tower
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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