skeptic English · revision 1148

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈskɛp.tɪk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes, partly through Middle French ''sceptique'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from [[la|scepticus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|σκεπτικός|tr=skeptikós|t=inquiring, reflective]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''sképtesthai'' “to look, consider, examine”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The followers of the Greek philosopher Pyrrho took the name ''Skeptikoí'' for themselves.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The spelling with ''sk-'', after the Greek, dates from the early 17th century and became standard in the U.S.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A member of an ancient Greek school that doubted the possibility of real knowledge (1587).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The extended sense, a person with a doubting attitude who suspends judgment, is recorded by 1615.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) By the 1630s the word also meant one who doubts the truth of Christianity without denying it outright.^(Etymonline) ''Skeptical'' is from 1639 and ''skepticism'' from 1646.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1587 – a member of the ancient Skeptics.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1615 – one who has a doubting attitude.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1631 – spelling ''skeptic''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1630s – a religious doubter.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1639 – ''skeptical''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1646 – ''skepticism''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who habitually doubts or questions accepted beliefs or claims.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person inclined to [[skepticism]] in religious matters.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An adherent of philosophical skepticism, especially of the ancient Greek school of [[Pyrrho]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Skeptical.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==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''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}