philosophy

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
  2. noun the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
  3. noun any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation

Etymology

From Middle English philosophie, Old French philosophie, and their source, Latin philosophia, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophía), from φίλος (phílos, “loving”) + σοφία (sophía, “wisdom”). By surface analysis, philo- + -sophy. Displaced Old English ūþwitegung.

In classic literature

Synonyms

doctrine, philosophical system, school of thought, ism

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