polymath
Meaningone who has learned much
Common meaning: one with knowledge of many subjects
- polymuch; manyLiddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), p. 658 · scan
- matha lesson; to learnLiddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), p. 483 · scan
‘much’ + ‘a lesson’ → polymath
Journey through time
Neither part’s path through time is traced in our sources yet; each root is shown from its dictionary entry.
- poly — Ancient Greek πολύς (polús) “much; many” (dictionary form; path not traced)
- math — Greek μάθημα; μανθάνω “a lesson; to learn” (dictionary form; path not traced)
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.
- US IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.
Origin: Built on Ancient Greek πολύς (polús) ‘much; many’ + Greek μάθημα; μανθάνω ‘a lesson; to learn’.
Did you know: our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), entry πολύς (polús), p. 658 · dictionary scan
Roots
- μάθημα; μανθάνω Greek “a lesson; to learn”
- πολύς (polús) Ancient Greek “much; many”
Related words
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