| 释义 |
sceptic, skeptic, a. and n.|ˈskɛptɪk|
[ad. F. sceptique adj. and n., or its source late L. scepticus (Scepticī n. pl., the Sceptics), lit. inquiring, reflective, assumed by the disciples of Pyrrho as their distinctive epithet; f. σκεπ- in σκέπτεσθαι to look out, consider, ablaut-var. of σκοπ- in σκοπεῖν to look, σκοπός watchman, mark to aim at, etc.: see scope n. Cf. Sp. escéptico, Pg. sceptico, It. scettico, G. skeptiker n., skeptisch adj.
In Fr. the sc is pronounced |s| as in sceptre. In Eng. direct recourse to Greek produced the pronunciation with |sk|. The spelling with sk-, for which cf. skeleton, occurs in the earliest instance, and has been used occas. by later writers. It is adopted without comment or alternative in Johnson's Dictionary, but did not become general in England; in the U.S. it is the ordinary form. Now usually spelt sceptic in the U.K. and British Commonwealth and skeptic in the U.S. Similarly all the derivatives, scepticism/skepticism, etc.]
A. adj. = sceptical a. Now rare exc. as the epithet of a school of philosophers (see B. 1).
c1575G. Buchanan Let. to Randolph Vernac. Writ. (S.T.S.) 57, I can not tak you for ane Stoik philosopher..or ane cairless [margin skeptik] hart that taks cuccaldris as thyng indifferent. 1598Marston Sco. Villanie i. i. 174 Fye Gallus, what, a Skeptick Pyrrhomist [sic]? 1654Whitlock Zootomia 221 Calling..humble Ductility after further Reason, and Discovery, Sceptick Inconstancy. 1709Shaftesbury Moralists i. ii. 27 Using a known Sceptick Privilege, and asserting strenuously the Cause I have hitherto oppos'd. 1839Morn. Herald 14 Sept., The sceptic geologists of the British Association. 1865W. G. Palgrave Arabia II. 3 Free from the sceptic distrustfulness..so common.
B. n.
1. Philos. One who, like Pyrrho and his followers in Greek antiquity, doubts the possibility of real knowledge of any kind; one who holds that there are no adequate grounds for certainty as to the truth of any proposition whatever. Also, often applied in a historically less correct sense, to those who deny the competence of reason, or the existence of any justification for certitude, outside the limits of experience.
1587Golding De Mornay i. (1592) 10 There was in deede a kinde of Philosophers called Scepticks..(that is to say Doubters) which did rather suspend their Judgements concerning the Godhead then call it in question. 1608Bp. Hall Charact. 151 Hee is a Scepticke, and dare hardly giue credit to his senses. a1631Donne Paradoxes (1652) 22 The Skeptike, which doubts all, was more contentious then either. 1633Massinger Guardian iii. vi, And I have eyes too... If I have no belief in their assurance, I must turn sceptick. 1661Glanvill Van. Dogm. Ep. Ded., Confidence in uncertainties is the greatest enemy to what is certain; and were I a Sceptick, I'de plead for Dogmatising. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 576, I am apt to think there never yet has really been such a monster in the world as a thorough sceptic. 1781Cowper Conversat. 138 Howe'er ingenious on his darling theme A sceptic in philosophy may seem [etc.]. 1872Morley Voltaire (1886) 11 The old-fashioned nomenclature puts him down among sceptics. 1893J. Owen (title) The Skeptics of the Italian Renaissance.
2. One who doubts the validity of what claims to be knowledge in some particular department of inquiry (e.g. metaphysics, theology, natural science, etc.); popularly, one who maintains a doubting attitude with reference to some particular question or statement. Also, one who is habitually inclined rather to doubt than to believe any assertion or apparent fact that comes before him; a person of sceptical temper.
1615Crooke Body of Man 48 The Philosopher..calleth the head, the chest, and the belly, principall Organs, because the most irresolute Scepticke, cannot but acknowledge their action and diuerse composition. 1650Baxter Saints' R. i. iii. (1662) 14 In the meantime I am a Sceptick, and know little in this whole doctrine of Spirits, and spiritual workings, further than Scripture clearly revealeth. 1657Treat. Conf. Sin 342 If we still continue Scepticks in the settlement of Church and Doctrine. 1725Watts Logic ii. iii. §3 The Dogmatist is in haste to believe something... The Sceptick will not take Pains to search Things to the Bottom, but when he sees Difficulties on both Sides resolves to believe neither of them. 1779Johnson L.P., Milton 102 If every sceptick in Theology may teach his follies, there can be no religion. 1820Byron Mar. Fal. i. ii. 154 Tis the first time that honour has been doubted, And were the last, from any other sceptic. 1848Lytton Harold xi. i, But one smile of the sceptic or the world-man was seen on the paling lips of those present. 1887Pall Mall G. 7 Nov. 2/2 Who says there is no romance in food? Let the sceptic turn to ‘Lorna Doone’.
3. spec. One who doubts, without absolutely denying, the truth of the Christian religion or important parts of it; often loosely, an unbeliever in Christianity, an infidel.
1638Chillingw. Relig. Prot. i. Pref. §8 So an Atheist or a Sceptique may not conclude as well. 1674T. Smith (title) Christian Religion's Appeal from the groundless prejudices of the Sceptick to the Bar of Common Reason. 1711G. Hickes Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (1847) II. 154, I wish..such men would..not give such advantage to deists and sceptics. 1781Crabbe Library 261 There sceptics rest, a still-increasing throng. 1863R. B. Girdlestone Anat. Scepticism 100 In listening to the arguments of a sceptic you are breathing a poisonous atmosphere.
4. Occas. used with reference to the etymological sense: A seeker after truth; an inquirer who has not yet arrived at definite convictions.
a1618Raleigh Sceptick (1651) 1 The Sceptick doth neither affirm, neither denie any Position: but doubteth of it, and opposeth his Reasons against that which is affirmed, or denied to justifie his not Consenting. 1653Gauden Hierasp. 96 Which temerity..hath, we see, made some poor souls turn Scepticks and Seekers after true Religion. 1865Grote Plato I. vi. 212 Several critics of antiquity considered Plato as essentially a sceptic—that is, a Searcher or Enquirer, not reaching any assured or proved result. 1870M. D. Conway Earthw. Pilgr. xxi. 248 A Sceptic, then, is one who shades his eyes in order to look steadfastly at a thing.
5. attrib. and Comb., as sceptic-Christian, sceptic-friend; sceptic-like, sceptic-ridden adjs.
1709Shaftesbury Moralists i. iii. 38 But..bore with me when I treated all his Thoughts as visionary; and when *Sceptick-like I unravel'd all his Systems.
1711― Charac. iii. Misc. Refl. ii. ii. 72 The best Christian in the World, who..depends only on History and Tradition for his Belief in these Particulars, is at best but a *Sceptick-Christian.
Ibid. v. ii. 288 To deal the better with his *Sceptick-Friend, he falls again to personating.
1711Hickes Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (1847) I. 267 He may..regale his atheist-ridden, or theist-ridden, or *sceptic-ridden..or devil-ridden mind. |