polymath
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
First attested in 1624; from the (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek πολυμαθής (polumathḗs, “having learnt much”), from πολύς (polús, “much”) + μάθη (máthē) (mathē, “learning”; from μανθάνω (manthánō), manthanō “I learn”); compare opsimath, philomath, polyhistor, polymathic, polymathist, and polymathy, as well as the French polymathe.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈpɒlɪmæθ/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈpɑliˌmæθ/, /ˈpɑlɪmæθ/
Audio (US): | (file) |
Noun
polymath (plural polymaths)
- A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.
- 1624, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy (2nd edn.), p.6:
- To be thought and held Polumathes and Polihistors.
- 1624, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy (2nd edn.), p.6:
Synonyms
Antonyms
Coordinate terms
Related terms
Translations
person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge
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References
- “polymath, n. (a.)” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd ed., 1989]
- “polymath, n. and adj.” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [3rd ed., September 2006]