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

The establishment of the doctorate, such as now in use among us, is ordinarily attributed to Irnerius, who himself drew up the formulary. The first ceremony of this kind was performed at Bologna, in the person of Bulgarus, who began to profess the Roman law, and on that occasion was solemnly promoted to the doctorate, i.e. installed juris utrinque doctor. But the custom was soon transferred from the faculty of law to that of theology; the first instance whereof was given in the university of Paris, where Peter Lombard and Gilbert de la Portree, the two chief divines of those days, were created doctors in theology, facere theologice doctorum.

Spelman takes the title of doctor not to have commenced till after the publication of Lombard's sentences, about the year 1140; and affirms, that such as explained that work to their scholars were the first that had the appellation of doctors. Others go much higher, and hold Bede to have been the first doctor at Cambridge, and John de Beverley at Oxford, which latter died in the year 721. But Spelman will not allow doctor to have been the name of any title or degree in England till the reign of king John, about the year 1207.

To pass doctor in divinity at Oxford, it is necessary the candidate have been four years bachelor of divinity. For doctor of laws, he must have been seven years in the university to commence bachelor of law; five years after which he may be admitted doctor of laws. Otherwise, in three years after taking the degree of master of arts, he may take the degree of bachelor in law; and in four years more, that of L.L.D. which same method and time are likewise required to pass the degree of doctor in physic.

At Cambridge, to take the degree of doctor in divinity, it is required the candidate have been seven years bachelor of divinity. Though in several of the colleges the taking of the bachelor of divinity's degree is dispensed with, and they may go out per salutem. To commence doctor in laws, the candidate must have been five years bachelor of law, or seven years master of arts. To pass doctor in physic, he must have been bachelor in physic five years, or seven years master of arts. A doctor of the civil law may exercise ecclesiastical jurisdiction, though a layman, stat. 37 Hen. VIII. cap. 17, sect. 4.

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 of the Church, a title given to certain of the fathers whose doctrines and opinions have been the most generally followed and authorized. We usually reckon four doctors of the Greek church, and three of the Latin. The first are St Athanasius, St Basil, St Gregory Nazianzen, and St Chrysostom. The latter are St Jerom, St Augustine, and Gregory the Great. In the Roman breviary there is a particular office for the doctors. It only differs from that of the confessors, by the anthem of the Magnificat, and the lessons.

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 subtle doctor; Raymond Lully, the illuminated doctor; Roger Bacon, the admirable doctor, &c.

Doctor, διδασκάλος, in the Greek church, is a particular officer, appointed to interpret part of the scriptures. He who interprets the Gospels, is called doctor of the Gospels; he who interprets St Paul's Epistles, doctor of the Apostle; he who interprets the Psalms, doctor of the Psalter.

Doctors Commons. See College of Civilians.