| 释义 |
zetetic, a. and n. rare.|zɪˈtɛtɪk|
[ad. mod.L. zētēticus, a. Gr. ζητητικός, f. ζητεῖν to seek, inquire.]
A. adj. Inquiring, investigating; proceeding by inquiry or investigation.
In quot. 1645 used in burlesque.
1645Urquhart Trissotetras Wks. (1834) 145 Zetetick, is said of loxogonospherical moods which agree in the same quæsitas. 1660Stanley Hist. Philos. xii. (1687) 771/1 This was called the Zetetick Philosophy, from its continual enquiry after Truth. 1704J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Zetetick Method in Mathematicks, is the Analytick, or Algebraick way. 1849S. B. Rowbotham (title) Zetetic Astronomy. A description of several experiments which prove that the surface of the sea is a perfect plane and that the Earth is not a Globe!
B. n.
1. (sing. or pl.) Investigation, inquiry (as in mathematics, etc.).
Often with allusion to Franciscus Vieta's Zeteticorum libri quinque.
1679Moxon Math. Dict. (1701), Zetetique, numbers used in Algebra and Equations by the famous Vieta. 1843Penny Cycl. XXVII. 775/2 Zetetics, a name given by Vieta..to the part of algebra which consists in the direct search after unknown quantities. 1853W. Thomson Laws Th. (ed. 3) §35 [Logic] has been called..Zetetic or the Art of seeking.
2. An investigator, inquirer; spec. an adherent of the ancient Greek sceptic school of philosophy (see sceptic A., B. 1).
1660Stanley Hist. Philos. xii. (1687) 772/2 These all were called Pyrrhonians from their Master; Aporeticks, and Scepticks, and Ephecticks, and Zeteticks, from their (as it were) Doctrine. 1838J. Rowbotham Dict. 66 The ancient Pyrrhonists were called Zetetics or seekers.
Hence zeˈtetical a., only in Zetetical Society, a nineteenth-century society with mystical beliefs; also ellipt.; zeˈtetically adv. [see -ically], by way of inquiry or investigation.
1881(programme) The Zetetical Society... Committee... J. M. Fells... G. B. Shaw... Sidney Webb. 1882G. B. Shaw Let. 30 Jan. (1965) I. 47, I have overtaxed the patience of the Almighty, and he has smitten me; and, through me, the Zetetical Society. 1885Bookseller 7 Jan. 12/1 A party of Zetetic astronomers with scientific instruments. 1905G. B. Shaw Let. 3 Jan. (1972) II. 486 After about a year of the Zetetical I joined the Dialectical. 1921G.B. Shaw Immaturity (1930) p. xl, Not until..1879, did I for the first time rise to my feet in a little debating club called the Zetetical Society. 1962D. H. Laurence Bernard Shaw's Platform & Pulpit p. x, A meeting of the Zetetical Society.
1665Hooke Microgr. ix. 55 It would be somewhat too long..zetetically to examine..what particular kind of motion it is. 1872Zetetic July 8/2 (Advt.), The life and teachings of Jesus Christ zetetically considered. |