philosopher

plural philosophers · alternative obsolete phylosopher

1. originallyA lover of wisdom.

   Antonyms: misosopher

2. A student of philosophy.
3. A scholar or expert engaged in or contributing to philosophical inquiry.

   Their playwrights knew better. Scandal, murder, hair-rending and railing against the gods sold tickets. King is not a philosopher. He knows how to sell tickets.

   2007, Harold Bloom, Bloom's Modern Critical Views: Stephen King

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   Not much later—perhaps only two or three weeks later he has discovered meaning in them; he knows that they say "The cat sat on the hat." How this happens no one really knows, despite the efforts of philosophers and psychologists over two and a half millennia to study the phenomenon.

   1972, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 25

4. archaicA person who applies the principles of philosophy to the conduct of their life, as by acting calmly and rationally in the face of inevitable change.

   Then certaine Philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoikes, encountred him

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 17:18

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   This is not the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.

   1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC

5. archaicA student, scholar, or expert in any branch of knowledge, especially those branches studied prior to being considered part of pure science.
6. obsoleteAn alchemist.

   Then thus conclude I, since that God of heaven Will not that these philosophers neven How that a man shall come unto this stone, I rede as for the best to let it gon.

   1813, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: The Canon's Yeoman's Tale

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   No further progress was made in this science until the Mohammedan alchemists embarked upon their search for the philosopher's stone, the elixir of life, and a method of transmuting base metals into gold.

   1945, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy