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View synonyms for Platonic

Platonic

[ pluh-ton-ik, pley- ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Plato or his doctrines:

    the Platonic philosophy of ideal forms.

  2. pertaining to, involving, or characterized by Platonic love as a striving toward love of spiritual or ideal beauty.
  3. (usually lowercase) purely spiritual; free from sensual desire, especially in a relationship between two persons of different sexes.
  4. (usually lowercase) feeling or professing platonic love:

    He insisted that he was completely platonic in his admiration.



Platonic

/ pləˈtɒnɪk /

adjective

  1. of or relating to Plato or his teachings
  2. often not capital free from physical desire

    Platonic love



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Derived Forms

  • Plaˈtonically, adverb

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Other Words From

  • Pla·ton·i·cal·ly adverb
  • an·ti-Pla·ton·ic adjective
  • post-Pla·ton·ic adjective
  • pro-Pla·ton·ic adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Platonic1

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin Platōnicus, from Greek Platōnikós, equivalent to Platōn-, stem of Plátōn Plato + -ikos, -ic

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Example Sentences

Only the unworldly could still think this was, at its worst, only an unseemly platonic relationship rather than a serious bonding.

In high school, Tsukuru was one of five platonic but intimate friends who did everything together and thought as one.

She uses the celebrations of holy matrimony as a way to chronicle her own relationships, both romantic and platonic.

But when pressed on the nature of their relationship—which Stiviano has characterized as platonic—Sterling clammed up.

I remembered the usual termination of Platonic liaisons, and thought how disgusted I had been whenever I heard of one.

True, she had taken a lively interest in all her brother's curates, but it was always a professional interest and purely Platonic.

The two minds, not hearts, were at once united; but this platonic union soon led to one more tender.

The single bright ray across her life was an absolutely platonic love for her cousin Charles Grandet.

This is obviously the Platonic doctrine of two right keys, holding the mean between high and low.

The manner in which Aristides introduces his information about the Platonic Modes is highly suspicious.

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