pre-Socratic

American  

[pree-suh-krat-ik, -soh-] / ˌpri səˈkræt ɪk, -soʊ- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the philosophers or philosophical systems of the period before the Socratic period.

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noun

1. any philosopher of this period.

Etymology

Origin of pre-Socratic

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

When they were finally together, they made a little more small talk — regarding the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Heraclitus — and were soon bonding over a mutual love of cycling, camping, red meat and wine.

From New York Times • Sep. 25, 2020

Can one lone pre-Socratic in a canoe teach you everything you failed to learn about philosophy in college?

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2015

Anaximander, as every map-lover surely knows, is the pre-Socratic philosopher who is thought by some scholars to have devised the first map of the world.

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2013

Some trace the argument back to pre-Socratic philosophers.

From Slate • Jul. 23, 2012

Haeckel's system is mainly poetico-mythical, chiefly on the lines of some of the pre-Socratic philosophers.

From An Interpretation of Rudolf Eucken's Philosophy by Jones, W. Tudor (William Tudor)