skeptic

Alternative forms

• sceptic (British English)

Etymology

From Latin *scepticus, only in plural Sceptici (“the sect of Skeptics”), from Ancient Greek σκεπτικός (skeptikós, “thoughtful, inquiring”), from σκέπτομαι (sképtomai, “I consider”), compare to σκοπέω (skopéō, “I view, examine”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɛptɪk/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

skeptic (plural skeptics) (American)

1. Someone who habitually doubts beliefs and claims presented as accepted by others, requiring strong evidence before accepting any belief or claim.
2. Someone undecided as to what is true.
3. A type of agnostic.

References

• “skeptic” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2018.
• skeptic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• skeptic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• skeptic at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• pickest, pickets, septick, spicket