Skeptic - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: Skeptic

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

skep·tic

Audio Help [skep-tik] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.

2.	a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.

3.	a person who doubts the truth of a religion, esp. Christianity, or of important elements of it.

(initial capital letter

) Philosophy.

a.	a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.

b.	any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.

–adjective

5.	pertaining to skeptics or skepticism; skeptical.

6.	(initial capital letter) pertaining to the Skeptics.

Also, sceptic.

[Origin: 1565–75; < LL scepticus thoughtful, inquiring (in pl. Scepticī the Skeptics) < Gk skeptikós, equiv. to sképt(esthai) to consider, examine (akin to skopeǐn to look; see -scope) + -ikos -ic

]

—Synonyms 3. doubter. See atheist.

—Antonyms 3. believer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Skeptic

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

skep·tic also scep·tic Audio Help (skěp'tĭk) Pronunciation Key
n.

One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.
One inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
Philosophy
1. often Skeptic An adherent of a school of skepticism.
2. Skeptic A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of Elis (360?-272? B.C.).

[Latin Scepticus, disciple of Pyrrho of Elis, from Greek Skeptikos, from skeptesthai, to examine; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
skeptic

1587, "member of an ancient Gk. 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 Gk. philosopher Pyrrho (c.360-c.270 B.C.E.), from skeptesthai "to reflect, look, view" (see scope (1)). The extended sense of "one with a doubting attitude" first recorded 1615. The sk- spelling is an early 17c. Gk. 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]

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

skeptic
noun
someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Skeptic

Scep"sis\, n. [NL., from Gr. ? doubt, fr. ? to consider: cf. G. skepsis. See Skeptic.] Skepticism; skeptical philosophy. [R.]

Among their products were the system of Locke, the scepsis of Hume, the critical philosophy of Kant. --J. Martineau.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Skeptic

Scep"tic\, Sceptical \Scep"tic*al\, Scepticism \Scep"ti*cism\, etc. See Skeptic, Skeptical, Skepticism, etc.

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