metaphysics

Meanings

1. The branch of philosophy which studies fundamental principles intended to describe or explain all that is, and which are not themselves explained by anything more fundamental; the study of first principles; the study of being insofar as it is being (Latin: ens in quantum ens).
2. The view or theory of a particular philosopher or school of thinkers concerning the first principles which describe or explain all that is.
3. The metalogic of physics; the logical framework of physics.
4. Any fundamental principles or rules.
5. The study of a supersensual realm or of phenomena which transcend the physical world.
6. Displeasingly abstruse, complex material on any subject.

1. plural of metaphysic

Etymology

1560s; plural of metaphysic, from Middle English methaphesik, methaphisik, methaphisique, metaphesyk, methafisik, metaphesyk, methephysyk, from Old French metafisique, methaphisique and Medieval Latin metaphysica, methephisica, from Byzantine Greek μεταφυσικά (metaphusiká), from the title of the collection by Aristotle μετὰ τὰ φυσικά (metà tà phusiká, “Following The Natural World”), a collection that comes after (μετά (metá)) Aristotle's collection entitled τὰ φυσικά (tà phusiká, “The Natural World”), from φυσικός (phusikós, “natural”). By surface analysis, meta- + physics.