hermeneutic
Americanadjective
adjective
-
of or relating to the interpretation of Scripture; using or relating to hermeneutics
-
interpretive
Other Word Forms
- hermeneutically adverb
- hermeneutist noun
Etymology
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
Explanation
The word hermeneutic is used to describe something that is interpretive or explanatory. Want to learn about the history of Irish theater? Try a hermeneutic approach to studying the tradition — it will explain main genres, themes, and styles. First used in the 1670s, the adjective hermeneutic has origins in the Greek word hermeneuein, meaning "to interpret," which is thought to have derived from the Greek god Hermes, who served as a messenger interpreting between the gods and mortals. Like Hermes, something hermeneutic involves interpretation. Curious about the main philosophies behind Abstract Expressionism? Take an art history course that uses a hermeneutic approach to interpreting the movement's key artworks.
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.
In his book The hermeneutic of hope, he recalled how he had fought against a view prevalent among many faithful at the time that "we are born to suffer".
From BBC • Oct. 23, 2024
The book became a manifesto for evangelical feminism, using a hermeneutic analysis of the Bible, interpreting the text by noting the context in which it was written and extrapolating its tenets to modern life.
From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2024
The hermeneutic approach takes the historical context of a text seriously, but it also recognizes that our interpretation of history is conditioned by our contemporary context.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
Wrapped in hermeneutic enigmas, the objects emanate a poignant mix of beauty and mystery.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2018
On Origen's hermeneutic principles in their relation to those of Philo see Siegfried, l.c., pp. 351-62.
From History of Dogma, Volume 2 (of 7) by Buchanan, Neil
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.
