philosopher

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A scholar or expert engaged in or contributing to philosophical inquiry.

   Not much later—perhaps only two or three weeks later he has discovered meaning in them; he knows that they say "The cat sat on the hat." How this happens no one really knows, despite the efforts of philosophers and psychologists over two and a half millennia to study the phenomenon.

2. 2
   noun

   A person who applies the principles of philosophy to the conduct of their life, as by acting calmly and rationally in the face of inevitable change.

   Then certaine Philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoikes, encountred him

3. 3
   noun

   An alchemist.

   Then thus conclude I, since that God of heaven Will not that these philosophers neven How that a man shall come unto this stone, I rede as for the best to let it gon.

4. 4
   noun

   a specialist in philosophy

5. 5
   noun

   a wise person who is calm and rational

6. 6
   noun

   A lover of wisdom.

7. 7
   noun

   A student of philosophy.

8. 8
   noun

   A student, scholar, or expert in any branch of knowledge, especially those branches studied prior to being considered part of pure science.

Etymology

From Middle English philosophre, from Anglo-Norman or Middle French philosophe, from Latin philosophus, from Ancient Greek φιλόσοφος (philósophos, literally “lover of wisdom”) + -er. Credited as having been coined by Pythagoras to describe himself. Displaced native Old English ūþwita.