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hermeneutic

or her·me·neu·ti·cal

[hur-muh-noo-tik or hur-muh-noo-ti-kuh l; -nyoo-]
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adjective
  1. of or relating to hermeneutics; interpretative; explanatory.

Origin of hermeneutic

1800–10; < Greek hermēneutikós of, skilled in, interpreting, equivalent to hermēneú(ein) to make clear, interpret (derivative of hermēneús an interpreter, itself derivative of Hermês Hermes) + -tikos -tic
Related formsher·me·neu·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hermeneutical

Historical Examples

  • These hermeneutical canons are much older than the Kabbalah.

    Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 6

    Various

  • And, indeed, such is the advanced state of hermeneutical knowledge, that we have little reason to fear it.

British Dictionary definitions for hermeneutical

hermeneutic

hermeneutical

adjective
  1. of or relating to the interpretation of Scripture; using or relating to hermeneutics
  2. interpretive
Derived Formshermeneutically, adverbhermeneutist, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hermeneutical

adj.

1798, from hermeneutic + -al (1). Related: Hermeneutically.

hermeneutic

adj.

"interpretive," 1670s, from Greek hermeneutikos "interpreting," from hermeneutes "interpreter," from hermeneuein "to interpret," of unknown origin (formerly considered ultimately a derivative of Hermes, as the tutelary divinity of speech, writing, and eloquence).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper