eruditas

Eruditas is the feminine plural form of erudita in Spanish and Portuguese, used to describe women who possess extensive knowledge or learning. As a noun, it refers to learned women; as an adjective, erudita describes someone who is well educated and widely knowledgeable.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin eruditus, past participle of erudire, meaning to educate or instruct. It entered Romance languages through medieval scholastic and literary usage and has carried connotations of broad study and rigor.

Usage: In modern Spanish, speakers more often say mujeres eruditas or personas eruditas; the bare phrase las eruditas appears mainly in historical or literary contexts. The term is sometimes used in discussions of women in science, letters, philosophy, and academia to emphasize learning, although it is not a formal title.

Cross-linguistic notes: In Portuguese, erudita follows the same gendered pattern. In English, the corresponding adjective is erudite, and erudition denotes the body of knowledge or learning.