archphilosopher
|arch-phi-lo-so-pher|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑrtʃˌfɪləsəfər/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːtʃˌfɪləsəfə/
chief / leading philosopher
Etymology
'archphilosopher' originates from Modern English, formed by compounding the prefix 'arch-' (from Greek 'arkhi-' meaning 'chief, principal') and 'philosopher' (from Greek 'philosophos' meaning 'lover of wisdom').
'arch-' ultimately derives from Greek 'arkhē' / 'arkhi-' (via Latin/Old French into Middle English) meaning 'chief/principal'; 'philosopher' comes from Greek 'philosophos' via Latin 'philosophus' into English. The compound 'archphilosopher' was created in Modern English by joining these elements.
The component elements originally meant 'chief' and 'lover of wisdom'; when combined, the coinage has been used to denote a 'chief philosopher' and has also taken on figurative or humorous senses to mean an archetypal or extreme philosopher.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a leading or senior philosopher; the chief figure in a philosophical school, movement, or institution.
Plato is often regarded as the archphilosopher of Western idealism.
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Noun 2
used humorously or pejoratively to describe someone who is extremely philosophical or who habitually adopts abstract, theoretical views — the archetypal or quintessential philosopher.
He's the archphilosopher of the department — always lost in abstract thought.
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Last updated: 2025/10/08 09:40