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metaphysical

[ met-uh-fiz-i-kuhl ]
/ ˌmɛt əˈfɪz ɪ kəl /
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See synonyms for metaphysical on Thesaurus.com
adjective
pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics.
Philosophy.
  1. concerned with abstract thought or subjects, as existence, causality, or truth.
  2. concerned with first principles and ultimate grounds, as being, time, or substance.
highly abstract, subtle, or abstruse.
designating or pertaining to the poetry of an early group of 17th-century English poets, notably John Donne, whose characteristic style is highly intellectual and philosophical and features intensive use of ingenious conceits and turns of wit.
Archaic. imaginary or fanciful.
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Origin of metaphysical

1375–1425; late Middle English metaphisicalle<Medieval Latin metaphysicālis.See metaphysic, -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM metaphysical

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to metaphysical

abstract, abstruse, esoteric, mystical, philosophical, spiritual, supernatural, theoretical, bodiless, deep, difficult, discarnate, eternal, fundamental, high-flown, ideal, immaterial, impalpable, incorporeal, insubstantial

How to use metaphysical in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for metaphysical (1 of 2)

metaphysical
/ (ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl) /
adjective
relating to or concerned with metaphysics
(of a statement or theory) having the form of an empirical hypothesis, but in fact immune from empirical testing and therefore (in the view of the logical positivists) literally meaningless
(popularly) abstract, abstruse, or unduly theoretical
incorporeal; supernatural

Derived forms of metaphysical

metaphysically, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for metaphysical (2 of 2)

Metaphysical
/ (ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl) /
adjective
denoting or relating to certain 17th-century poets who combined intense feeling with ingenious thought and often used elaborate imagery and conceits. Notable among them were Donne, Herbert, and Marvell
noun
a poet of this group
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
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