English Explanatory Dictionary

philosophy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism, often attempting to provide explanations relating to general concepts such as existence and rationality.
  2. A view or outlook regarding fundamental principles underlying some domain.
  3. A general principle (usually moral).
  4. A comprehensive system of belief.
  5. The love of wisdom.
  6. A calm and thoughtful demeanor; calmness of temper.
  7. Synonym of small pica (especially in French printing).
  8. A broader branch of (non-applied) science.
verb
  1. To philosophize.

Pronunciation

/fɪˈlɒs.ə.fi/ /fɪˈlɑ.sə.fi/ En-us-philosophy.ogg

Word forms

philosophy philosophies philosophie phylosophie phylosophy philosophying philosophied

Etymology

From Middle English philosophie, Old French philosophie, and their source, Latin philosophia, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophía), from φίλος (phílos, “loving”) + σοφία (sophía, “wisdom”). By surface analysis, philo- + -sophy. Displaced Old English ūþwitegung.

Synonyms

philosophy worldview ethos doctrine ideology small pica

Related words

philologist philology philosopher philosophic philosophical philosophically philosophise philosophize ethics ideology

Derived words

analytic philosophy antiphilosophy astrophilosophy biophilosophy continental philosophy counterphilosophy critical philosophy cyberphilosophy Doctor of Philosophy ecophilosophy ecosophy ethnophilosophy first philosophy foolosophy geophilosophy metaphilosophy moral philosophy natural philosophy nature philosophy neurophilosophy nonphilosophy ordinary language philosophy Oxford philosophy perennial philosophy personal philosophy philosophist philosophize philosophylike philosophy of mind philosophy of science Philosothon physiophilosophy protophilosophy pseudophilosophy psychophilosophy religiophilosophy rosewater philosophy social philosophy sociophilosophy speculative philosophy synthetic philosophy technophilosophy theophilosophy Unix philosophy unphilosophy
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