'philosophize' originates from Modern English by adding the suffix '-ize' to 'philosophy'; ultimately it goes back to Greek 'philosophia', where 'philo-' meant 'loving' and 'sophia' meant 'wisdom'.

'philosophize' developed in English (early modern use from the 17th century) from forms influenced by Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'philosophari' and French formations such as 'philosophiser', with the productive English suffix '-ize' forming the verb from the noun 'philosophy'.

Initially it meant 'to practice or discuss philosophy' (to engage in philosophic thought); over time it retained that sense but also came to be used more broadly for 'speculating or talking abstractly' (sometimes with a slightly critical nuance).