metaphysic

English

Alternative forms

• metaphysick (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From Latin metaphysicus.

Adjective

metaphysic (not comparable)

1. (philosophy, archaic) Metaphysical.
   • c. 1720, Jonathan Swift, "Ode on Science," lines 32-33:

     Bring sweet philosophy along,

     In metaphysic dreams.

Etymology 2

From Middle English methaphesik, methaphisik, methaphisique, metaphesyk, methafisik, metaphesyk, methephysyk, from Old French metafisique, methaphisique and Medieval Latin metaphysica, methephisica; equivalent to meta- +‎ physic.

Noun

metaphysic (countable and uncountable, plural metaphysics)

1. (philosophy, uncountable, archaic) The field of study of metaphysics.
   • 1876, Editor, "Prefatory Words," Mind, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 5:

     With reference to general Philosophy or Metaphysic proper, psychology may be viewed as a kind of common ground whereon thinkers of widely different schools may meet.

2. (philosophy, countable) The metaphysical system of a particular philosopher or of a particular school of thought.
   • 1775, Samuel Horsley, “An Abridged State of the Weather at London in the Year 1774,”, in Philosophical Transactions (1683-1775), volume 65, page 182:

     The uncertain conclusions of an ill-conducted analogy, and a false metaphysic, were mixed with a few simple precepts derived from observation, which probably made the whole of the science of prognostication in its earliest and purest state.

   • 1954, Frederick C. Copleston, “Review of Metaphysical Journal by Gabriel Marcel”, in Philosophy, volume 29, number 109, page 170:

     It should be pointed out to the prospective reader that he will not find here the systematic presentation of a metaphysic.

   • 2003, Christine Helmer, “Mysticism and Metaphysics”, in The Journal of Religion, volume 83, number 4, page 521:

     A Neoplatonic metaphysic is the flip side of mysticism.

3. (philosophy, countable) A fundamental principle or key concept.
   • 1927, Charles M. Perry, “A Principle for Realism”, in The Journal of Philosophy, volume 24, number 20, page 537:

     What we need as a metaphysic and what the logical realists are at least glimpsing, is the principle of contradiction.

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.
• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.