WikiWord

English

philosopher

/fɪˈlɒs.ə.fə(ɹ)/ · noun

Meaning

  1. A lover of wisdom.
  2. A student of philosophy.
  3. A scholar or expert engaged in or contributing to philosophical inquiry.
  4. A person who applies the principles of philosophy to the conduct of their life, as by acting calmly and rationally in the face of inevitable change.
  5. A student, scholar, or expert in any branch of knowledge, especially those branches studied prior to being considered part of pure science.
  6. An alchemist.

Etymology / origin

From Middle English philosophre, from Anglo-Norman or Middle French philosophe, from Latin philosophus, from Ancient Greek φιλόσοφος (philósophos, literally “lover of wisdom”) + -er. Credited as having been coined by Pythagoras to describe himself. Displaced native Old English ūþwita.

Related words

Descendant words

Sources

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