hermeneutics
Americannoun
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the science of interpretation, especially of the Scriptures.
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the branch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis.
noun
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the science of interpretation, esp of Scripture
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the branch of theology that deals with the principles and methodology of exegesis
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philosophy
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the study and interpretation of human behaviour and social institutions
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(in existentialist thought) discussion of the purpose of life
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Etymology
Origin of hermeneutics
First recorded in 1730–40; see origin at hermeneutic, -ics
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Explanation
Hermeneutics is a fancy word for interpretation. If you're interested in understanding the Bible on a deeper level, you might want to try hermeneutics. In Greek mythology, Hermes was the God of many things, including language and writing. He was every English teacher's dream. The word hermeneutics means the interpretation of language, whether written or spoken. Generally, hermeneutics is an activity that interests biblical scholars, and the word is sometimes used in philosophy as well. If you enjoy sitting in a library poring over the same book for hours from every angle, then you will love hermeneutics.
Vocabulary lists containing hermeneutics
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hermeneutics took up the concerns of historicity when it engaged the question of whether the construction of a text could possibly reveal more about the meaning than the author intended.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
Hermeneutics is of great importance to this chapter as it deals with the possibilities of seeing a thing from not just one perspective but several.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
Hermeneutics rejects both the absolute power of rational thought propagated by Descartes and the empiricism promoted by other Enlightenment thinkers.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
At this, the Rev. Mr. Logos is borne away by the laity to edit a book of his sermons entitled Through Exegesis and Hermeneutics We Arrive at Kerygma.
From Time Magazine Archive
It was then, and on that account, that I wrote in the Latin tongue my great work on Biblical Hermeneutics.
From Hyperion by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
