theological English · revision 39756

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=early 15th century, theologicalle|origins=grc θεολογία}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /θɪəˈlɒd͡ʒɪkl/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /θi.əˈlɑd͡ʒɪkl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-med|theologicālis]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(ODE 2010)^(Klein 1966) a word used by Duns Scotus before 1308,^(OED 2026) formed on [[la-lat|theologicus|t=theological]] with the suffix that became [[-al]].^(OED 2026)^(Dictionary.com 2016) The Late Latin adjective comes from [[grc|θεολογικός|tr=theologikós]],^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010)^(Dictionary.com 2016) from [[m|grc|θεολογία|tr=theología]], the source of [[theology]].^(Etymonline)^(ODE 2010)^(SOED 2002) Merriam-Webster also allows a borrowing of [[m|frm|theologique]] with the English suffix,^(MWU 2024) and Johnson (1755) gave the French and Latin words as its source.^(Johnson 1755) The Shorter Oxford notes that in Late Latin the adjective was used of non-Christian systems.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to theology: early 15th century, spelled ''theologicalle'', in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the Shorter Oxford and the Oxford Dictionary of English date it to late Middle English,^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010) Merriam-Webster to the 15th century,^(MWU 2024) and Dictionary.com to 1520–30.^(Dictionary.com 2016) The Oxford Dictionary of English gives the first sense as "relating to the word of God or the Bible",^(ODE 2010) and the OED's first quotation for that sense is from William Bonde's ''Pylgrimage of Perfection'' (1526).^(OED 2026)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The scriptural sense survives in the ''theological virtues'', faith, hope and charity, which the Shorter Oxford distinguishes from the older cardinal virtues;^(SOED 2002)^(OED 2026) the Latin phrase goes back to Albertus Magnus.^(OED 2026) The general sense, "of or dealing with theology", is recorded from 1603, in Philemon Holland's translation of Plutarch's ''Morals''.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Johnson (1755) defined the word as relating to the science of divinity.^(Johnson 1755) Etymonline records ''theologic'' from the mid-15th century and an old alternative ''theologal'' from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) As a noun, the word meant the theological virtues (1602) and theological matters (1650–1774), both now obsolete, and since 1871 a man trained at a theological college.^(OED 2026) Since 1959 it has been used disparagingly of arguments that turn on dogma or abstract principle rather than practical concerns,^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) and Collins records an informal sense, hard to understand or esoteric.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – ''theologicalle'', relating to theology.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1526 – relating to the word of God, the Bible.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1602 – noun, the theological virtues.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1603 – of or dealing with theology.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1871 – noun, a man trained at a theological college.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1959 – dogmatic, concerned with abstract principle.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to, based on or dealing with [[theology]]: ''The two churches split over a theological dispute about baptism.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Based on what [[God]] has [[reveal|alt=revealed]] of his nature and will.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Preparing people for a religious calling: ''a theological college''.^(MWU 2024)

+ # (informal) Turning on [[dogma]] or abstract principle; [[esoteric]] and hard to follow.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[theologically]]

+ * [[antitheological]]

+ * [[nontheological]]

+ * [[pretheological]]

+ * [[semitheological]]

+ * [[untheological]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[theologian]]

+ * [[theology]]

+ * [[theism]]

+ * [[logic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}