skeptic

Forms

• sceptic (UK)

Etymology

It comes, partly through Middle French sceptique,^[2][3] from Latin scepticus,^{[4][2][3][5][6]} from Ancient Greek σκεπτικός (skeptikós, “inquiring, reflective”),^{[4][2][3][5][6]} from sképtesthai “to look, consider, examine”.^{[4][2][3][5][6]} The followers of the Greek philosopher Pyrrho took the name Skeptikoí for themselves.^[2][3] The spelling with sk-, after the Greek, dates from the early 17th century and became standard in the U.S.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A member of an ancient Greek school that doubted the possibility of real knowledge (1587).^[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

The extended sense, a person with a doubting attitude who suspends judgment, is recorded by 1615.^[2][3] By the 1630s the word also meant one who doubts the truth of Christianity without denying it outright.^[3] Skeptical is from 1639 and skepticism from 1646.^[2]

Timeline

• 1587 – a member of the ancient Skeptics.^[2][5]
• 1615 – one who has a doubting attitude.^[2][3]
• before 1631 – spelling skeptic.^[2]
• 1630s – a religious doubter.^[3]
• 1639 – skeptical.^[2]
• 1646 – skepticism.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A person who habitually doubts or questions accepted beliefs or claims.
2. A person inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
3. An adherent of philosophical skepticism, especially of the ancient Greek school of Pyrrho.

Adjective

1. Skeptical.

Related words

• skeptical
• skepticism
• sceptic
• scope
• spy

Usage notes

Random House lists doubter as a synonym and believer as an antonym, and refers to its discussion at atheist.^[6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
5. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House