Alma mater, << AL muh MAH tuhr or AHL muh MAH tuhr, >> is an expression used by students or graduates to refer to their university or college. The Latin words mean fostering mother. The Romans often used the words in speaking of some of their goddesses, such as Ceres and Cybele. The expression was applied to European universities during the 1300’s and 1400’s at the universities in Paris; Oxford, England; and Bologna, Italy.
