philosophy

English Online Dictionary. What means philosophy‎? What does philosophy mean?

English

Alternative forms

• philosophie (obsolete)
• phylosophie (obsolete)
• phylosophy (nonstandard)

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 native Old English ūþwitegung.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fɪˈlɒsəfi/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /fɪˈlɑsəfi/

Noun

philosophy (countable and uncountable, plural philosophies)

1. (uncountable, originally) The love of wisdom.
2. (uncountable) 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.
3. (countable) A comprehensive system of belief.
4. (countable) A view or outlook regarding fundamental principles underlying some domain.

5. (countable) A general principle (usually moral).
6. (archaic) A broader branch of (non-applied) science.
7. A calm and thoughtful demeanor; calmness of temper.
8. (printing, dated) Synonym of small pica (especially in French printing).

Meronyms

• See also Thesaurus:philosophy

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

philosophy (third-person singular simple present philosophies, present participle philosophying, simple past and past participle philosophied)

1. (now rare) To philosophize.

See also

• Appendix:Glossary of philosophical isms
• ideology

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “philosophy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
• “philosophy”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

Further reading

• "philosophy" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 235.