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Where does the word "skeptic" come from? It comes from Greek skeptikos, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
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Where does the word "skeptic" come from? It comes from Greek skeptikos, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
Skeptic’s story begins in Greek: skeptikos meant “inquiring.” Greek, from 'skeptesthai', to look carefully. It reached English by 1580s as skeptic. The Sceptic school of Pyrrho doubted all knowledge. Today, skeptic means a person inclined to doubt.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient skeptikos "inquiring", Greek, from 'skeptesthai', to look carefully.
- Stage 2 · English · 1580s skeptic "philosophical doubter", the Sceptic school of Pyrrho doubted all knowledge.