philosophaster

[ fi-los-uh-fas-ter, fi-los-uh-fas-ter ]

noun

1. a person who has only a superficial knowledge of philosophy or who feigns a knowledge they do not possess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of philosophaster¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin: “a bit of a philosopher.” See philosopher, -aster ¹

Example Sentences

This is all that is wanting,—that a philosophaster like this should lay his impure hands on us, the natural sciences and history!

From Project Gutenberg

A Latin comedy, Philosophaster, originally written by Robert Burton in 1606 and acted at Christ Church in 1617, was long supposed to be lost; but in 1862 it was printed for the Roxburghe Club from a manuscript belonging to the Rev. W.E.

From Project Gutenberg

Philosophaster is a vivacious exposure of charlatanism.

From Project Gutenberg

There are points of resemblance to Philosophaster in Ben Jonson's Alchemist and Tomkis's Albumazar, but in the prologue Burton is careful to state that his was the earlier play.

From Project Gutenberg

Philosophaster, with an English translation of the same.

From Project Gutenberg