Peripatetic

See also: peripatetic

English

Alternative forms

• Peripatetick (obsolete)
• peripatetic

Etymology

From Latin peripatēticus, from Ancient Greek περίπατος (perípatos, “strolling, covered walk, conversation while walking”), from περιπατέω (peripatéō, “I walk around”), from περί (perí, “around”) + πατέω (patéō, “I walk”). Aristotle’s school was sometimes called the περιπατητικοί (peripatētikoí) "those who are prone to walking" or οἱ ἐκ τοῦ περιπάτου (hoi ek toû peripátou, “those from the walk”) in reference either to his supposed habit of teaching while traversing the περίπατοι (perípatoi, “walkways”) of the Lyceum or simply to the walkways themselves with which the school became associated.

Pronunciation

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• Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

Noun

Peripatetic (plural Peripatetics)

1. (historical) A disciple of Aristotle.

   Synonym: Aristotelian

   • 1661, Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist, p. A5(r):

     And though it be True indeed, that some Aristotelians have occasionally written against the Chymical Doctrine he Oppugnes, yet since they have done it according to their Principles, And since our Carneades must as well oppose their Hypothesis as that of the Spagyrist, he was fain to fight his Adverfaries with their own Weapons, Those of the Peripatetick being Improper, if not hurtfull for a Person of his Tenents ; besides that those Aristotelians, (at Least, those he met with,) that have written against the Chymists, seem to have had so little Experimental Knowledge in Chymical Matters, that by their frequent Mistakes and unskilfull way of Oppugning, they have too often expos'd Themselves to the Derision of their Adversaries, for writing so Confidently against what they appear so little to understand.

Adjective

Peripatetic (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to the philosophy or methods of Aristotle, or to his followers.

   Synonym: Aristotelian

Translations

of or pertaining to the philosophy of Aristotle

• Greek:

  Ancient: περίπατος (perípatos)

Anagrams

• precipitate