The origins of “erudite” literally describe someone who is not rude (based on the Latin “rudis,” meaning “rude, untrained”). The word “rude” in this context didn’t mean “impolite”; instead it meant “unrefined and unlearned,” and the prefix “e-” can be translated as “out of.” Thus, to become erudite is to leave a rough state for a higher plane of educated sophistication.