philology 
Comparative philology, the study of languagea as car- 
ried oil l)> the , ompiii :itl\ i melhiMi; investigation, by 
means til a compai ison uf l;uitru:i^t-^, nf their history, n - 
latiiinships, anil characteristics, williin narrower or wider 
liinit; linguistic HtaOM; linguistic!; glossology. 
Philology, whether classical or orit-iilal, whether treat 
iiiK of ancient or nn>dern, of cultivated or baihaioiis Ian 
gMges, is an historical science. Language is here treated 
ximply as a meant*. Thf classical scholar uses <;reek or 
Latinitln oriental scholar Hebrew or Sanskrit, or any oiln r 
language, as a key to an understanding of the lileiaiy 
lliolilllnellts which hyKone atfes li.ivi )H i|in;it he<l to US, as 
:i -pell tn raise f linn tile tomb of time tin: thoughts of treat 
nieii in diirerent ages and different countries, and as a 
means iiltiinalely In trace Ihr social, moral, intellectual, 
and religious progress of tiiehntnan race. ... In coin- 
jmratiri' ///i/'M"../.'/ the case is totally different. In the 
science of Unoiuge, languages are not treated as a means; 
lanKUUKe itself licconics the sole object of sciclltille in- 
iiniry. Dialects which have never produced any literature 
at all, the jargons of savage tribes, the clicks of the Hot- 
tentols. and the vocal nioiliilntions of the Indo-Chinese, 
are as imiwrtant, nay, for the solution of some of our prob- 
lems, more ini|Hirtant, than the poetry of Homer or the 
prose of Cicero. \Ve do not want tx> know languages, we 
want to know language; what language is, how It can form 
a vehicle or an organ of thought ; we want to know its 
ori- in, iu nature, its laws, and it is only in order to arrive 
at that knowledge that we collect, arrange, and classify 
all the facts of language that are .within our reach. 
Mai Miilli'f, Science of Language, 1st ser., Lect. 1. 
Philomachux (fi-lom'a-kus), n. [NL. (.Mm h- 
ring, 17;i:!), < Gr. $i'/.6/uixot, loving fight, < fi/iii; 
love, + /ia,\>/, fight.] A genus of wading birds 
of the family Nrolopacidif ; the ruffs and reeves : 
synonymous with Muchvtcs and with Pavoncella. 
philomath (hTo-math), n. [= It. filomate, < 
Gr. <j>tAo/ial>j/f, fond of learning, < Qi'Aelv, love, + 
patiof, learning, < [laifldvetv, luiDelv, learn.] A 
lover of learning. 
A solemn disputation in all the mysteries of the pro- 
fession, before the face of every philomath, student in as- 
trology, and member of the learned societies. 
tiiMxniiih, Citizen of the World, Ixvill. 
philomathematict (fil-o-math-e-mat'ik), n. [< 
Gr. ^f/lp, love, + fid6r//ia, learning, > fiaBtjfta- 
TiKt'tf, raathematic: see ntatliematic.] Same as 
pliilomtith. Settle. 
philomathic (lil-o-math'ik), a. [= F. philoma- 
tliii/tie = Sp. filoutdtico = Pg. phUomalico; as 
liliilniiiiitli + -ic.] 1. Of or pertaining to phi- 
lomathy ; also, of or pertaining to philomaths. 
The International I'hilomathic Congress, having for Its 
object the discussion of commercial and industrial techni- 
cal Instruction. Science, VII. 455. 
2. Having a love of letters, 
philomathical (fil-o-math'i-kal), a. [< philo- 
miitliii' + -al.] Same as philoiutithic. 
philomathy (li-lom'a-thi), n. [= Pg. philoma- 
cia ; < Gr. Qito/taBia, <t>t%apa6eta, love of learning. 
< ^//io/Hrftyf, fond of learning: see philomath.} 
Love of learning. 
philomel (fil'o-mel), n. [= P. pliilomele = Sp. 
filiimclti = Pg. pliilomela It.filomeld.filoiitoin, 
< L. ]>hilnmi'lii, < Gr. Qt'/.o/ifiM, the nightingale 
(in tradition, Philomela, daughter of Paudion, 
king of Athens, who was changed into a night- 
ingale), < ift/Mv, love, + (prob.) /?/>? (length- 
ened), song: see melody.] The nightingale. 
By this, lamenting 1'hUimul had ended 
The well-tuned warble of her nightly sorrow. 
Shale., Lucreee, 1. 1079. 
Philomela (fil-o-me'lii), . [NL. (Rafinesque, 
1815), < L. philomcln: see philomel.] A jjenus 
of oscine passerine birds, the type of which is 
the nightingale: now usually called Luneinia 
or Ihiulias. 
philomenet (fil'6-men), n. [Appar. a var. of 
/iliilamcl (Gr. 0(^.ou;/Xa), as if < Gr. <fu/.civ, love, 
+ fifjvi/, the moon.] Same as philomel. 
To vnderstatide the notes of t*hybnene. 
Oascoigne, Complaint of PhUomene. 
philomot, a. and a. See lilt unit. Spectator, 
No. 126.-). 
philomusical (fil-o-mu'zi-kal), a. [< Gr. tyitelv, 
love, + iiwnmii, music: see music."] Loving 
music. H'rii/lit. 
Philonic (fi-lou'ik), a. [< L. Pliilo(n-), < Gr. *i- 
/i.r. Philo (see def.), 4- -ic.] Of or pertaining 
to Philo, a Jewish philosopher and writer, who 
flourished during the first half of the first cen- 
turv of our era. 
Philonthidse (fi-lon'thi-de), . pi. [NL., < 
I'liiloiitluix + -iiltr."] A family of rove-beetles, 
named by Kirby in 1S:!7 from the genus 1'ltilon- 
tllHX. 
Philonthus (ti-lon'thus), . [NL. (Curtis, 1825), 
< Gr. 1)1/1 if, Inve. + I'n-H'K , dung.] A very large 
:inil wide-spread genus of rove-beetles, com- 
prising more than '200 species, found in all 
i|ii;irters of the globe. They have the ligula entire, 
the femora unarmed, ami the last joint of the labial palpi 
slender. They aie insects of small size, and of the usual 
rove-beetle habits, except that Mime species inhabit ants' 
4445 
nests. Eighty-five species are found in the Inited State* 
and I aiiada. See cut under r,,r, /,/,. 
philopena (fll-$-p4'n), . | A rural or provin- 
cial word of undetermined origin and unset t lei I 
spelling, being variously written philopi-mi, 
/ili/li/n nil, phillipi-HK, filopi-HH, also philoprm; 
pliillipilir, li/l/inn, tHli/mil, eli-.. the spelling 
liliili>l>iiiu siiiiiilnting a Greek origin, us if n 
friendly forfeit,' < Gr. (fi'nr, loving, friendly, + 
muvi/, a penalty (see pain 1 , piin'-). The corrrct 
form appears to bo plnlippim- ( = F. philippim', 
D. JUi/i/iinc, Sw. filipiii, Dan. Jili/nm ). < ('. I'hil- 
i/i/iiiic, fcm. of Philipp, Philip, these names be- 
ing used by the man and woman respectively 
in greeting the other party to the compact. 
The use of the name I'liilippiiic is referred by 
some to the tradition that St. Philip's two 
daughters were buried (at Hierapolis) in one 
sepulcher. The word is commonly said to be a 
corruption of G. rii'llii-brhi-ii, sweet heart' (used 
in address), lit. ' very darling,' < riii, much, very, 
+ lifhchen ( MI), licj'kni), sweetheart, darling: 
see /ft-/ 2 and liij'hin.] 1 . A custom or game of 
reputed German origin: two persons share a 
nut containing two kernels, and one of them 
incurs the obligation of giving something as 
forfeit to the other, either by being first ad- 
dressed by the latter with the word phil;,<-ii 
at their next meeting, or by receiving some- 
thing from the other's hand, or by answering a 
question with yes or no, or by some other simi- 
lar test as agreed upon. 2. The salutation in 
the game or custom thus described. 3. The 
kernel of the nut used in the game. 
philopolemic (fil*o-po-lem'ik), a. [< Gr. ^<^o- 
irufc/inf, ^/XoTrro/fjUof, loving war, < <ju">.tlv, love, 
+ 7ro/>.f/iof, war: see polemic.] Loving war or 
combat; fond of debate or controversy. [Rare.] 
philopolemical (ftl'o-po-lem'i-kal), a. [(philo- 
polfiiiic + -al.] Same as philopolemic. 
Philoponist (fi-lop'6- nist )> n. [< Philopon-ns 
(see def.) + -int.] A member of a sect of Tri- 
theists, followers of John Philoponus, an Alex- 
andrian of the sixth century. See Trithcixt. 
philoprogeneity (nl-o-pro-je-ne'i-ti), n. [Irreg. 
< Gr. *&&, love, 4- L. progenies, offspring, + 
-e-ity.] Love of offspring; philoprogenitive- 
ness. Science, XII. 124. 
philoprogenitiveness (fil'o-pro-jen'i-tiv-nes), 
n. [Irreg. < (Jr. Qifeiv, love, + L. proijenirs 
(see proyciiy) + -itivc 4- -ness.] Inphrenol., the 
love of offspring; the instinctive love of young 
in general. Phrenologists locate its organ above 
the middle part of the cerebellum. 
One of those travelling chariots or family arks which 
only Knglish philoproycnitivenegg could Invent. 
Thackeray, Pendennis, xxli. 
Philopteridse (fil-op-ter'i-de), n.pl. [NL. (Bur- 
mpister, 1838), < Philopterus + -idse.] One of 
the principal families of mallophagous insects, 
having no tarsal cushions, no maxillary palpi, 
and filiform autennee with five or three joints, 
typified by the genus Philopterus. They infest 
the skins of birds and mammals. 
Philopterus (ft-lop'te-rus), n. [NL. (Nitzsch, 
1818), < Gr. $i~Mlv, love, T nrtpov, a feather.] 
A genus of bird-lice, or Mallophaga, haying five- 
jointed antennas and two-jointed tarsi, typical 
of the Philopteridte. They are small insects of much - 
varied patterns, living in the feathers on the neck and un- 
der the wings of birds. /'. holoyaster is a common para- 
site of the domestic fowl in Europe. 
philornithic (fil-6r-nith'ik), n. [Cf. Gr. <f>itop- 
vitiia, fondness for birds; < Gr. cjt'/tiv, love, + 
opvtf (u/iviff-), a bird.] Bird-loving; fond of 
birds. [Rare.] 
The danger has happily this year been met by the pub- 
lic spirit of a party of philornithic gentlemen. 
Contemporary Rev., LIV. 184. 
philosoph (fil'o-sof), M. [ME../i,o.w/c (AS. phil- 
osoph = D. filo:oof = G. philosoph = Sw. 
Dan. filosof), < OY. filosofe, philosophe, F. phi- 
lo.tophe = Pr. philosophe = Sp. filosofo = Pg. 
plii/osopho = It. filosofo, < L. philosophm, < Gr. 
^Mooo^of, a philosopher: see philosophy. Cf. 
philosopher.] A philosopher: a word some- 
times used with a contemptuous implication as 
nearly equivalent to philosophaster. Also, as 
French, philosophf. 
A little light is precious in great darkness ; nor, amid 
myriads of poetasters and philosopher, are poets and phi- 
losophers so numerous that we should reject such when 
they speak to us in the hard, but manly, deep, and expres- 
sive tone! of that old Saxon speech which is also our 
philosophic 
suffix -otter."] A pretender to philosophical 
knowledge; an incompetent philosopher. 
Of necessity tin le must tie such n tiling in the world as 
incorporeal substance, let incomddcratile j>iiil<.*<:i>haittn 
hoot and deride as much as their follies please. 
llr. II. M<'r<-. Immortal, of Soul, 1. 14. 
philosophatet (li-los'o-fat), c. i. f< ],.philxi>- 
I ih n i n*, pp. ot pWotopitari (> It . tiii^i'i'm-i = Sji. 
llliiHiifur = I'g- i>liit'>*<>i'ltr = F. /ilii/ii.wjilier, > 
I). l!l<i:.iili'i-i-H = G.jriUiOMMMflM = Sw. ,/i/o.w 
fern = I)an. ///o.so/r/r), philosoplii/.e, ' BJMiMO- 
phus,& philosopher: see />/nVi<m/</i//. ] To phi- 
losophi/e. llnrriiir. Works, I. xii. 
philosophationt (li-los-o fa'siion), . (X /</ 
liiaijilinii- + -ion.] The' act of philosophizing; 
philosophical speculatioji. .>(/ II . I'/ I/if, Ail- 
vise to Hartlit, p. 18. 
philosophdom (lil'o-sof-diim), H. f< /ilii/nxiijili 
+ -<l<n.] Philosophs collectively; philoso- 
phism. [Rare.] 
They entertain their special amlwiudor In Philowphe- 
dam. l-arliftr, Misc., III. 21(1. (Vatjiet.) 
mother-tongue. 
Carlyle, State of German Literature. 
philosophaster (fi-los'6-fas-ter), n. [= F. phi- 
= Sp. It. filosofastro, < LL. 
< L. pliitiiiiopliHs, a philosopher, + dim. 
philosophe (fil'o-sof), n. See; 
philosophema (fi-los-o-fe'mii), n. [NL., < Gr. 
ft'/M!u<f>//ia, a demonstration, tftl.oaoQriv, philos- 
ophize, < <pi/6aixj>u, a philosopher: see philos- 
ophy.] Same as plii/osnplii mi . 
philpsopheme (fi-los'6-fem), n. [= F. pMloto- 
plurme, < tilj,i>hilosop)ieni(l: see philosophetiui.] 
1. Properly, a perfect demonstration. Hence 
2. A theorem; a philosophical truth. 
This, the most venerable, and perhaps the most ancient, 
of the Grecian my thi, is a philomipheme. Coleridge. 
philosopher (fi-los'6-fer), n. [< ME.philosophre, 
philosofre, with term, -re, -er ; earlier filosofe, 
< OF. filosofe, philosophe, a philosopher: see 
philosoph and philosophy.] 1. One who is de- 
voted to the search for fundamental truth ; in a 
restricted sense, one who is versed in or studies 
the metaphysical and moral sciences ; a meta- 
physician. The application of the term to one versed 
in natural science or natural philosophy has become less 
common since the studies of physicists have been more 
specialized than formerly. 
He said : But who are the true philomphersf 
Those, I said, who are lovers of the vision of truth. 
Plato, Republic (tr. by Jowett), v. I 475. 
He who has a taste for every sortof knowledge, and who 
Is curious U> learn and Is never satisfied, may justly be 
termed a philosopher. Am I not right? 
Plato, Republic (tr. by Jowett), T. 475. 
Philosophers, who darken and put out 
Eternal truth by everlasting doubt. 
Cotrper, Progress of Error, 1. 472. 
2. One who conforms his life to the principles 
of philosophy, especially to those of the Stoical 
school; one who lives according to reason or 
the rules of practical wisdom. 
Be mine a philosopher's lite In the quiet woodland ways. 
Where, if I cannot be gay, let a passionless peace be my 
lot. Tennyson, Maud, iv. 9. 
3f. An alchemist: so called with reference to 
the search for the philosopher's stone. 
But albe that he was a philonophre, 
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 297. 
Hence 4f. One who deals in any magic art. 
"Alias!" qnod he, "alias that I blhlghte 
i if pure. I gold a thousand pound of wighte 
Unto this philosophre." 
Chaucer, Franklin's Tale, 1. 833. 
A priori philosopher. See a priori. Philosopher' fl 
egg*, a medicine compounded of the yolk of an egg, saf- 
fron, etc., formerly supposed to be an excellent preserva- 
tive against all poisons, and against plague and other dan- 
gerous diseases, ft'ares. Philosopher's game*, an In- 
tricate game, played with pieces or men of three different 
forms, round, triangular, and square, on a board resem- 
bling two chess-boards united. Uallitcell. Philosophers 
Of the garden. See garden. Philosopher's oil, brick- 
oil (which see, under "//). Philosopher's stone. See 
elizir, 1. 
philosophess (fi-los'o-fes), w. [= It.filoiiofexsa ; 
as philosoph + -ess.] A female philosopher. 
t'nrli/l<; Diderot. [Rare.] 
philosophic (fil-o-sof 'ik), o. [< F. fUtttfUgtu 
= Sp. filogofico = Pg. philosoph ico = U.filosojico 
(cf. D. filozofisch =G. philosophisch = Sw. Dan. 
filosofisk), < LL. philosophicus, < Gr. *QiMxioQtK6<; 
(in adv. ^/Aooo^/xuf ), < QtAoooiftia, philosophy : see 
philosophy.] 1. Of or pertaining to philoso- 
phy, in any sense; based on or in keeping or 
accordance with philosophy, or the ultimate 
principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. 
2. Characteristic of or befitting a philosopher; 
calm; quiet; cool; temperate: as, philoxophir 
indifference; a philosophic mind Philosophic 
COtton. See cotton 1. Philosophic wool, finely divided 
zinc oxid, resembling tufts of wool or flakes of snow : the 
tana philosophies of the alchemists. Also called pnrnpho- 
tyx.=Syn. 2. '<inipoed, unruffled, serene, tranquil, im- 
pel tnrbable. 
