platonic English · revision 1198

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pləˈtɒnɪk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|Platonicus]],^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|Πλατωνικός|tr=Platōnikós]],^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''Plátōn'', the philosopher Plato.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The name is said to be a nickname referring to his broad shoulders, from ''platús'' “broad”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or relating to Plato or his philosophy (1533).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “free of sensual desire” (1631) translates Latin ''amor platonicus'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) a Renaissance notion based on Plato's ''Symposium'' and the interest Socrates took in young men.^(Etymonline) The Renaissance Platonist Marsilio Ficino used ''amor platonicus'' for a love between two people that prepares for the love of God,^(AHD) and the English word came to mean a spiritual love between man and woman.^(AHD)^(OED 1989) The American Heritage Dictionary notes that it has since been used of relationships between people of the same sex as well.^(AHD) Merriam-Webster also records a sense “nominal, theoretical”.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1533 – of Plato or his doctrines.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1571 – ''Platonic bodies'', the five regular solids.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1631 – of love, free from sensual desire.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1650 – professing platonic love.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Close and affectionate but without [[romance]] or sexual desire.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(capitalized)'' Of or relating to [[Plato]] or his [[philosophy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[theoretical|alt=Theoretical]] or [[nominal]] rather than practical.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Platonically]]

+ * [[platonic love]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Plato]]

+ * [[Platonism]]

+ * [[Platonist]]

+ * [[plateau]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}