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philosophize

[fi-los-uh-fahyz]
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verb (used without object), phi·los·o·phized, phi·los·o·phiz·ing.
  1. to speculate or theorize, usually in a superficial or imprecise manner.
  2. to think or reason as a philosopher.
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Also especially British, phi·los·o·phise.

Origin of philosophize

First recorded in 1585–95; philosoph(y) + -ize
Related formsphi·los·o·phi·za·tion, nounphi·los·o·phiz·er, nouno·ver·phi·los·o·phize, verb (used without object), o·ver·phi·los·o·phized, o·ver·phi·los·o·phiz·ing.well-phi·los·o·phized, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

theorizedeliberatecontemplateexamineweighthink

Examples from the Web for philosophize

Historical Examples

  • For to fly and philosophize were one thing, and to philosophize in prison were another.

    The Book of Khalid

    Ameen Rihani

  • I endeavored to philosophize myself into calmness and indifference.

  • He continued to philosophize with what seemed to me a shocking freedom of mind.

    Romance

    Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer

  • The Artist was already in his sketch, but he paused to growl and philosophize.

    Riviera Towns

    Herbert Adams Gibbons

  • To philosophize as a business is to miss the highest philosophy.

British Dictionary definitions for philosophize

philosophize

philosophise

verb
  1. (intr) to make philosophical pronouncements and speculations
  2. (tr) to explain philosophically
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Derived Formsphilosophization or philosophisation, nounphilosophizer or philosophiser, 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 philosophize

v.

1590s, from philosophy + -ize. Related: Philosophized; philosophizing. The earlier verb was simply philosophy (late 14c.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper