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pre-Socratic

American

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

adjective

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

noun

any philosopher of this period.

Etymology

Origin of pre-Socratic

First recorded in 1870–75

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.

See Examples For:

pre-Socratic

The painting of the bald figure bears a citation of the pre-Socratic philosopher Parmenides.

From New York Times ● Nov. 5, 2021

As a youth, Glenn attended St. John’s College in Annapolis, Md., where he studied pre-Socratic philosophy.

From New York Times ● Aug. 12, 2016

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

From Slate ● Jun. 3, 2015

Some trace the argument back to pre-Socratic philosophers.

From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2012

Both were content to fall back for their physics upon the pre-Socratic schools, the one adopting the firm philosophy of Heraclitus, the other the atomic theory of Democritus.

From Guide to Stoicism by Stock, St. George William Joseph

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023