metaphysical

[ met-uh-fiz-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics.
2. 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.
3. highly abstract, subtle, or abstruse.
4. 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.
5. Archaic. imaginary or fanciful.

metaphysical

¹

/ ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl /

adjective

1. relating to or concerned with metaphysics
2. (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
3. (popularly) abstract, abstruse, or unduly theoretical
4. incorporeal; supernatural

Metaphysical

²

/ ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl /

adjective

1. 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

1. a poet of this group

Derived Forms

• ˌmetaˈphysically, adverb

Other Words From

• meta·physi·cal·ly adverb
• anti·meta·physi·cal adjective
• anti·meta·physi·cal·ly adverb
• hyper·meta·physi·cal adjective
• nonmet·a·physi·cal adjective
• nonmet·a·physi·cal·ly adverb
• quasi-meta·physi·cal adjective
• quasi-meta·physi·cal·ly adverb
• unmet·a·physi·cal adjective
• unmet·a·physi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of metaphysical¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English metaphisicalle, from Medieval Latin metaphysicālis; equivalent to metaphysic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

During this time, normal activities are disrupted, so an indivdual’s thoughts become more attuned to the metaphysical.

From No Straight News

There is a profound and metaphysical difference between the two.

From Popular-Science

Moreover, there may well be no independent “metaphysical” substance constituting our reality that underlies this web.

From Singularity Hub 

Springsteen closed the show with a new song off Letter to You, “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” a metaphysical invitation that replaces the earlier closer, “Born to Run.”

From Time

Bechdel references these metaphysical moments, or “aerobic inebriation,” throughout her book.

From Time

He left the U.S., seeking a spiritual and metaphysical connection for his work elsewhere.

From The Daily Beast

I do not say a creation … Any preexistence of the universe has a metaphysical character.

From The Daily Beast

Things get metaphysical in one of the most masterful hours of television since ‘Breaking Bad.’

From The Daily Beast

So in episode five—not to spoil anything—Cohle gives one of his metaphysical addresses.

From The Daily Beast

Caleb makes clear that those plaguing him are honest-to-god metaphysical beings and not traumatic figments.

From The Daily Beast

Metaphysical terms, taken in their proper sense, have sometimes determined the opinion of twenty nations.

From Project Gutenberg

In his metaphysical conversations, Baudelaire spoke much of his ideas, little of his sentiments, and never of his actions.

From Project Gutenberg

Metaphysical subtlety, in pursuit of an impracticable theory, could alone have devised one that is calculated to destroy it.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr. Whewell equally misunderstands M. Comte's doctrine respecting the second, or metaphysical stage of speculation.

From Project Gutenberg

A metaphysical explanation can be of use only when there is a doctrine of life which it serves to make manifest.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abstract
• abstruse
• esoteric
• mystical
• philosophical
• spiritual
• supernatural
• theoretical