metaphysic
Appearance
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]- metaphysick (obsolete)
Etymology 1
[edit]From Latin metaphysicus.
Adjective
[edit]metaphysic (not comparable)
- (philosophy, archaic) Metaphysical.
- c. 1720, Jonathan Swift, "Ode on Science," lines 32-33:
- Bring sweet philosophy along,
- In metaphysic dreams.
- c. 1720, Jonathan Swift, "Ode on Science," lines 32-33:
Etymology 2
[edit]From Middle English methaphesik, methaphisik, methaphisique, metaphesyk, methafisik, metaphesyk, methephysyk, from Old French metafisique, methaphisique and Medieval Latin metaphysica, methephisica; equivalent to meta- + physic.
Noun
[edit]metaphysic (countable and uncountable, plural metaphysics)
- (philosophy, uncountable, archaic) The field of study of metaphysics.
- 1876, Editor, "Prefatory Words," Mind, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 5:
- With reference to general Philosophy or Metaphysic proper, psychology may be viewed as a kind of common ground whereon thinkers of widely different schools may meet.
- 1876, Editor, "Prefatory Words," Mind, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 5:
- (philosophy, countable) The metaphysical system of a particular philosopher or of a particular school of thought.
- 1775, Samuel Horsley, “An Abridged State of the Weather at London in the Year 1774,”, in Philosophical Transactions (1683-1775), volume 65, page 182:
- The uncertain conclusions of an ill-conducted analogy, and a false metaphysic, were mixed with a few simple precepts derived from observation, which probably made the whole of the science of prognostication in its earliest and purest state.
- 1954, Frederick C. Copleston, “Review of Metaphysical Journal by Gabriel Marcel”, in Philosophy, volume 29, number 109, page 170:
- It should be pointed out to the prospective reader that he will not find here the systematic presentation of a metaphysic.
- 2003, Christine Helmer, “Mysticism and Metaphysics”, in The Journal of Religion, volume 83, number 4, page 521:
- A Neoplatonic metaphysic is the flip side of mysticism.
- (philosophy, countable) A fundamental principle or key concept.
- 1927, Charles M. Perry, “A Principle for Realism”, in The Journal of Philosophy, volume 24, number 20, page 537:
- What we need as a metaphysic and what the logical realists are at least glimpsing, is the principle of contradiction.
References
[edit]- Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.
- Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.
Categories:
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- en:Philosophy
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- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Medieval Latin
- English terms prefixed with meta-
- English nouns
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