skeptic

skeptic
skeptic also sceptic, 1580s, "member of an ancient Greek school that doubted the possibility of real knowledge," from Fr. sceptique, from L. scepticus, from Gk. skeptikos (pl. Skeptikoi "the Skeptics"), lit. "inquiring, reflective," the name taken by the disciples of the Greek philosopher Pyrrho (c.360-c.270 B.C.E.), from skeptesthai "to reflect, look, view" (see SCOPE (Cf. scope) (1)). The extended sense of "one with a doubting attitude" first recorded 1610s. The sk- spelling is an early 17c. Greek revival and is preferred in U.S.
Skeptic does not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found. [Miguel de Unamuno, "Essays and Soliloquies," 1924]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Skeptic — Skep tic, n. [Gr. skeptiko s thoughtful, reflective, fr. ske ptesqai to look carefully or about, to view, consider: cf. L. scepticus, F. sceptique. See {Scope}.] [Written also {sceptic}.] 1. One who is yet undecided as to what is true; one who is …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Skeptic — Skep tic, Skeptical Skep tic*al, a. [Written also sceptic, sceptical.] 1. Of or pertaining to a sceptic or skepticism; characterized by skepticism; hesitating to admit the certainly of doctrines or principles; doubting of everything. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • skeptic — index heretic Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • skeptic — skeptic, skeptical see sceptic, sceptical …   Modern English usage

  • skeptic — [n] person who is leery, unbelieving agnostic, apostate, atheist, cynic, disbeliever, dissenter, doubter, doubting Thomas*, freethinker, heathen, heretic, infidel, materialist, misanthrope, misbeliever, nihilist, pagan, pessimist, profaner,… …   New thesaurus

  • skeptic — (Brit. sceptic) ► NOUN 1) a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions. 2) a person who doubts the truth of Christianity and other religions; an atheist. DERIVATIVES skepticism noun. ORIGIN Greek skeptikos, from skepsis inquiry, doubt …   English terms dictionary

  • skeptic — [skep′tik] adj. [L scepticus < Gr skeptikos, thoughtful, inquiring < skeptesthai, to consider: altered by metathesis < IE base * spek̑ , to peer > SPY] var. of SKEPTICAL: used esp. in philosophy n. 1. [S ] a member of any of the… …   English World dictionary

  • Skeptic — El texto que sigue es una traducción defectuosa o incompleta. Si quieres colaborar con Wikipedia, busca el artículo original y mejora o finaliza esta traducción. Puedes dar aviso al autor principal del artículo pegando el siguiente código en su… …   Wikipedia Español

  • skeptic — US var. of SCEPTIC. * * * skeptic, skeptical etc.: see sceptic, etc …   Useful english dictionary

  • Skeptic (magazine) — *Skeptic (U.S. magazine) The magazine of The Skeptics Society, edited by Michael Shermer * Skeptic A University of London literary magazine in the late 1950s under the editorship of Wen Su Tung. * The Skeptic Published by the Australian Skeptics… …   Wikipedia

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