sceptic
pronunciation
How to pronounce sceptic in British English:
UK [ˈskeptɪk]
How to pronounce sceptic in American English:
US [ˈskeptɪk]
-
- Noun:
- someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs
Word Origin
- sceptic
- sceptic: [16] The Greek verb sképtesthai meant ‘examine, consider’ (it was descended from a base *skep- which was related to *skop-, source of English scope, and may have been a reversed version of *spek-, from which English gets spectator, speculate, etc). From it was derived the adjective skeptikós, which was applied to various schools of philosophy (particularly that of Pyrrho of Elis) which stressed the need for careful examination of a proposition, starting from an attitude of doubt, before accepting it.The word passed via Latin scepticus and French sceptique into English as sceptic, by which time it had acquired broader connotations of ‘initial doubt’.=> scope
- sceptic (n.)
- chiefly British English spelling of skeptic (q.v.). Related: Sceptical; sceptically; scepticism.
Example
- 1. Perhaps he is a climate sceptic I have no idea .
- 2. A modern sceptic may trust firmly in reason and direct observation .
- 3. Climate change ' sceptic ' ian plimer argues co2 is not causing global warming
- 4. Joe barton , a republican congressman and global-warming sceptic , says it will put the american economy in a straitjacket .
- 5. The rigidity of the new model is one factor that has dampened returns over the years , thinks simon lack , an investment consultant and a vocal hedge-fund sceptic .