apriorist
|a-prior-ist|
/eɪˈprɪərɪst/
knowledge before experience
Etymology
'apriorist' originates from Latin (via philosophical Latin and Modern English), specifically the phrase 'a priori', where 'a' (ablative form) meant 'from' and 'prior' meant 'former' or 'before'.
'apriorist' was formed in English by attaching the agentive suffix '-ist' to the Latin phrase 'a priori' (used in philosophical contexts), producing the noun 'apriorist' in modern philosophical usage.
Initially the Latin phrase 'a priori' meant 'from the former' or 'from what comes before'; over time the derived English term 'apriorist' came to mean 'one who holds that some knowledge or justification is independent of experience.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who emphasizes or defends a priori knowledge or reasoning — i.e., the view that some knowledge or justification is independent of sensory experience.
The philosopher was an apriorist, arguing that certain truths can be known a priori without empirical evidence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/28 10:02