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Webster 1913 Edition


Philomath

Phil′o-math

(fĭl′ō̍-măth)
,
Noun.
[Gr.
φιλομαθής
;
φίλοσ
loving, a friend +
μάθη
learning, fr.
μαθεῖν
,
μανθάνειν
, to learn.]
A lover of learning; a scholar.
Chesterfield.

Webster 1828 Edition


Philomath

PHI'LOMATH

,
Noun.
[Gr. a lover, and to learn.] A lover of learning.

Definition 2024


philomath

philomath

English

Noun

philomath (plural philomaths)

  1. (archaic) A lover of learning; a scholar.
    • 1824, Rev. Philip Skelton, The Complete Works of the Late Rev. Philip Skelton, Rector of Fintona, page 27:
      For this (in my humble opinion, not very important purpose, and fitter to employ the talent of a philomath than a Newton) he and Leibnitz, much about the same, struck out a fluxional method, which they both took for a demonstration.
    • 1896, John Bach McMaster, Benjamin Franklin as a Man of Letters, page 108:
      Jerman for twenty years past had been the author of a Quaker almanac, and had for about the same time been engaged in a fierce almanac warfare with Jacob Taylor, a philomath and a printer of Friends’ books.
  2. An astrologer or predictor.
    • 2007, Thomas Fleming, Benjamin Frankiln: Inventing America, Sterling point books, age 33
      "The success of an almanac depended upon the appeal of the "philomath"-the resident astologer who did the writing and predicting."