English
sophist
Sophist comes from Ancient Greek σοφιστής ‘wise one’, and goes back to σοφός.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσοφόςsophós‘wise’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσοφίζω‘to become wise’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσοφιστήςsophistḗs‘wise one’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsophista
- Englishearliest quotation 1699sophist
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσοφόςsophós‘wise’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσοφίζω‘to become wise’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσοφιστήςsophistḗs‘wise one’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsophista
- Englishearliest quotation 1699sophist
Earliest quotation: 1699, Richard Bentley, The Preface: “[T]hey have acted in this Calumny both the injuſtice…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek σοφός ‘wise’
through Ancient Greek σοφίζω ‘to become wise’
Today it means
noun A teacher who uses plausible but fallacious reasoning.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek σοφός / sophist