person who has passed all the degrees of a faculty, and is empowered to teach or practice the same; thus we say, doctor in divinity, doctor in physic, doctor of laws.

The title of doctor seems to have been created in the XIIth century, instead of master; and established, with the other scholastic degrees of bachelors and licentiates, by Peter Lombard and Gilbert Porreus, then the chief divines of the university of Paris. Gratian did the same thing, at the same time, in the university of Bologna.

Doctor of the Law, a title of honour among the Jews. The investiture, if we may so say, of this order was performed by putting a key and table-book in their hands; which is what some authors imagine our Saviour had in view, Luke xi. 52, when, speaking of the doctors of the law, he says, "Wo unto you doctors of the law, for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering you hindered."

Doctor, is also an appellation adjoined to several specific epithets, expressing the merit of some of the schoolmen: thus, Alexander Hales is called the irrefragable doctor; Thomas Aquinas, the angelic doctor; St Bonaventure, the seraphic doctor; John Duns Scotus, the subtile doctor; Raimond Lully, the illuminated doctor; Roger Bacon, the admirable doctor, &c.

Doctors Commons. See College of Civilians.