释义 |
philosophic, a. (n.)|fɪləʊˈsɒfɪk| [ad. post-cl. L. philosophic-us, a. Gr. *ϕιλοσοϕικ-ός (implied in ϕιλοσοϕικῶς adv.), f. ϕιλοσοϕία philosophy: see -ic. Cf. F. philosophique (c 1500 in Hatz.-Darm.).] A. adj. 1. a. Of or pertaining to philosophers or philosophy: = philosophical 1.
1644Milton Areop. 24, I have sat among their lerned men,..and bin counted happy to be born in such a place of Philosophic freedom as they suppos'd England was. 1704Hearne Duct. Hist. (1714) I. 415 They went to Megara, where Euclid who had been a Disciple of Socrates, had erected a Philosophick School. a1734North Life Ld. Guildford (1742) 284 This resignation to philosophic studies spoiled the lawyer. 1736Butler Anal. Diss. i. 303 In the proper philosophick Sense of the Word same. 1802M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xiv. 110 Questions, which he..imagined scarcely admitted of philosophic doubt. 1872Morley Voltaire (1886) 9 Philosophic candour and intelligence. 1879A. J. Balfour (title) A Defence of Philosophic Doubt, being an Essay on the Foundations of Belief. b. = philosophical 1 b; scientific. Now rare. philosophic cotton: see cotton 7. philosophic stone: see philosophers' stone. philosophic wool: see wool n. 2 b.
1686W. Harris tr. Lemery's Chym. i. xiii. (ed. 3) 340 Antient Chymists have given the Epithete Philosophick to all preparations wherein they have used Brick. 1687Dryden Hind & P. ii. 113 Every saint has to himself alone The secret of this Philosophic stone. 1784Cowper Task iii. 229 Philosophic Tube, That brings the planets home into the eye Of Observation. 1825Inscr. on statue of Jas. Watt in Westm. Abbey, An original genius, early exercised in philosophic research. 2. Of persons, etc.: = philosophical 2.
1711Steele Spect. No. 2 ⁋ 6 He is a Clergyman, a very Philosophick Man, of general Learning. 1796Kirwan Elem. Min. (ed. 2) I. 15 For the discovery..we are indebted to that celebrated philosophic artist Mr. Wedgewood. 1845Graves Rom. Law in Encycl. Metrop. II. 735/1 The history of legal systems is a subject of great interest to philosophic minds. 1890E. R. Lankester Adv. Sc. 286 Speculations which have a historical value for the philosophic biologist. 3. = philosophical 3.
a1700Dryden (J.), Among mankind so few there are, Who will conform to philosophick fare. 1700W. King Transactioneer 34, I call him the Philosophick Sancho, and he me Don. 1781Cowper Retirement 429 What early philosophic hours he keeps. 1816Jane Austen Emma II. xvi. 304 The philosophic composure of her brother on hearing his fate. 1822De Quincey Confess. 110 The poor are far more philosophic than the rich... They show a more ready and cheerful submission to what they consider as irremediable evils. 1927E. O'Neill Marco Millions ii. i. 85 The expression has grown mask-like, full of philosophic calm. a1953― Touch of Poet (1957) ii. 86, I flatter myself I have preserved a philosophic poise. 1977D. Aitkin Second Chair xxiv. 227 She was composed and philosophic, aware that I did not blame her. 4. philosophic radical (also with capital initials) = philosophical radical; hence philosophic radicalism.
1834J. S. Mill in Monthly Repos. VIII. 309 Few of the results of the Reform Bill have fallen more short of our hopes, than the conduct of the little band of enlightened and philosophic Radicals. 1837― in Westm. Rev. XXVII. 67 Those whom..we call philosophic radicals, are those who in politics observe the common practice of philosophers—that is, who, when they are discussing means, begin by considering the end, and when they desire to produce effects, think of causes. a1854― Early Draft Autobiogr. (1961) 114 Almost every debate was a bataille rangée between the philosophic radicals & the Tory lawyers. Ibid. 157 The foundation of a periodical organ of philosophic radicalism. 1882A. Bain John Stuart Mill iv. 124 In the days when he was heading the philosophic radicals, he was conscious of the weakness of his position in not being himself in the House of Commons. 1911Encycl. Brit. XVI. 661/1 In April 1835 he [sc. William Molesworth] founded, in conjunction with Roebuck, the London Review, as an organ of the ‘Philosophic Radicals’. 1969D. Beales From Castlereagh to Gladstone I. iv. 68 Bentham..was the most productive..of a group which was of great importance in that it had some influence on public opinion at large, more on political leaders, and more still..on practical administration. They were known as the Philosophic Radicals. B. n. (in pl.) Studies, works, or arguments pertaining to philosophy.
a1734North Life Sir D. North (1744) 200 So much Latin as to make him take pleasure in the best classics, especially in Tully's philosophics. 1867‘Ouida’ Idalia xiv. 190 A woman had enthralled him, and his philosophics were dead. |