philosophy
/fɪˈlɑ.sə.fi/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.49 in modern English
23
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism, often attempting to provide explanations relating to general concepts such as existence and rationality.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Philosophy is often divided into five major branches: logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and aesthetics."
- "During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant[…]"
- "a philosophy of government; a philosophy of education"
- "As a matter of fact the Enlightment culture was based on a philosophy inspired to an ethical laicism whose aim was to create a better society based on principles such as solidarity, equality of rights and duties, and full freedom."
- "Although I prefer small pica. Or as its^([sic]) sometimes known, philosophy. – Small pica, or philosophy, she said. It sounds like the title of a novel. With a girl heroine."
- "natural philosophy"
Etymology
From Middle English philosophie, Old French philosophie, and their source, Latin philosophia, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophía), from φίλος (phílos, “loving”) + σοφία (sophía, “wisdom”). By surface analysis, philo- + -sophy. Displaced Old English ūþwitegung.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: philosophie, philosophia, φιλοσοφία
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /fɪˈlɑ.sə.fi/
- British English: /fɪˈlɒs.ə.fi/