philosophaster

[ fi-los-uh-fas-ter, fi-los-uh-fas-ter ]

noun

1. a person who has only a superficial knowledge of philosophy or who feigns a knowledge they do not possess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of philosophaster¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin: “a bit of a philosopher.” See philosopher, -aster ¹

Example Sentences

The philosophaster's object was not to instruct, but to befool his hearers, as every page attests.

From Project Gutenberg