peripatetic

WOTD – 18 January 2008    

See also Peripatetic

English

Alternative forms

• peripatetick (obsolete)

Etymology

From French peripatetique (peri- + patein (“to tread”)), from Latin peripatēticus, from Ancient Greek περιπατητικός (peripatētikos, “given to walking around”), from περιπατέω (peripateō, “I walk around”), from περί (peri, “around”) + πατέω (pateō, “I walk”).

Pronunciation

• (RP, US) IPA: /ˌpɛr.ɪ.pəˈtɛt.ɪk/, /ˌpɛr.ə.pəˈtɛt.ɪk/, X-SAMPA: /%pEr.I.p@"tEt.Ik/, /%pEr.@.p@"tEt.Ik/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

Adjective

peripatetic (comparative more peripatetic, superlative most peripatetic)

1. tending to walk about
2. constantly travelling; itinerant; nomadic.
3. (usually capitalized) Having to do with Aristotle, his philosophy, or the school of thought which he founded.
   • Howell

     The true peripatetic school.

Translations

walking about; itinerant

• Greek: περιπατητικός (el) (peripatitikós) m
• Polish: wędrowny (pl) m

Noun

peripatetic (plural peripatetics)

1. One who walks about; a pedestrian; an itinerant.
2. (usually capitalized) One who accepts the philosophy of Aristotle or his school; an Aristotelian.

Translations

one who walks about; a pedestrian; an itinerant

• Polish: perypatetyk m, wędrowiec m

Synonyms

• (one who walks): itinerant, pedestrian, nomad

Anagrams

• precipitate