theosoph

English

Alternative forms

• theosophe (archaic)

Etymology

Attested circa 1835. From Medieval Latin theosophus (“a theologian”, noun), from Koine Greek θεόσοφος (theósophos, “wise in things concerning god”, adjective), from Ancient Greek θεός (theós, “god”) +‎ σοφός (sophós, “wise”). Cognate with French théosophe and Spanish teósofo.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈθiː.əsɒf/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈθiː.oʊ.sɒf/
• Hyphenation: the‧o‧soph

Noun

theosoph (plural theosophs)

1. (archaic) A theosophist.
   • 1843 July, F. A. Strale, “Fugitive thoughts”, in John Holmes Agnew, editor, American eclectic and museum of literature, science, and art, volume 2, New York: E. Littell, →OCLC, page 394:

     […] where arose on some circumscribed basis of experiments, the speculative structures of the theosoph, the astrologer and the alchemist.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:theosoph.

References

• Theosophy in Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary, London, W. & R. Chambers, 1907. p. 1006. →OCLC.
• theosoph,theosophe,theosopher,theosophist at the Google Books Ngram Viewer.
• “theosoph, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2015.
• “theosoph”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.