metaphysical
Use Metaphysical in a sentence
əˈfɪz adjective
1.
pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics.
2.
Philosophy.
a.
concerned with abstract thought or subjects, as existence, causality, or truth.
b.
concerned with first principles and ultimate grounds, as being, time, or substance.
3.
highly abstract, subtle, or abstruse.
4.
designating or pertaining to the poetry of an early group of 17th-century English poets, notably John Donne, whose characteristic style is highly intellectual and philosophical and features intensive use of ingenious conceits and turns of wit.
5.
Archaic. imaginary or fanciful.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English metaphisicalle < Medieval Latin metaphysicālis. See metaphysic, -al1
1375–1425; late Middle English metaphisicalle < Medieval Latin metaphysicālis. See metaphysic, -al1
Related forms
met·a·phys·i·cal·ly, adverb
an·ti·met·a·phys·i·cal, adjective
an·ti·met·a·phys·i·cal·ly, adverb
hy·per·met·a·phys·i·cal, adjective
non·met·a·phys·i·cal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To metaphysical
00:10
Metaphysical
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
metaphysical (ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | relating to or concerned with metaphysics |
| 2. | (of a statement or theory) having the form of an empirical hypothesis, but in fact immune from empirical testing and therefore (in the view of the logical positivists) literally meaningless |
| 3. | (popularly) abstract, abstruse, or unduly theoretical |
| 4. | incorporeal; supernatural |
| meta'physically | |
| —adv | |
| Metaphysical (ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | denoting or relating to certain 17th-century poets who combined intense feeling with ingenious thought and often used elaborate imagery and conceits. Notable among them were Donne, Herbert, and Marvell |
| —n | |
| 2. | a poet of this group |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
metaphysical
mid-15c., "pertaining to metaphysics," from metaphysic (late 14c.), from M.L. metaphysica (see metaphysics).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Historically, questions that people used to think were purely metaphysical were in fact physical as well.
Being right in some metaphysical moral sense will not make the government any smaller unless you can also deliver the votes.
But some posters were getting into metaphysical descriptions of the cosmos based on this problem.
Hence, diseases are a metaphysical focus for vaccine treatment.
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