Laureate

law′re-āt, adj. crowned with laurel.— n. one crowned with laurel: a poet-laureate.— v.t. to crown with laurel, in token of literary merit: to confer a degree upon.— ns. Lau′reate ship , office of a laureate; Laureā′tion , act of laureating or conferring a degree; Pō′et-lau′reate , formerly one who received a degree in grammar (i.e. poetry and rhetoric) at the English universities: a poet bearing that honorary title, a salaried officer in the royal household, appointed to compose annually an ode for the king's birthday and other suitable occasions.