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philosophaster (fi-los-uh-FAS-tuhr, fi-LOS-uh-fas-tuhr) noun
A pseudo-philosopher. [From Late Latin, philosopher + -aster, a pejorative suffix indicating something that is inferior or mimics another.] "I allude more particularly to you, O stolid philosophaster, who presume to style yourself a practical chemist, a good philosopher, and yet are entirely destitute of all knowledge..." Arthur Edmund Waite, The Hermetic Museum, 1893. The pejorative prefix -aster (meaning something that is inferior, small or shallow) gives us some delightful words when it comes to name-calling. A reviewer brands a poet a poetaster (an inferior poet) and the reviewee might return the favor by calling the former a criticaster (an incompetent critic). In the same vein, we can have a politicaster, an astrologaster, and the bane of writers everywhere--a grammaticaster. Lest we get carried away here, let's remember that a grandmaster is not an inferior grandma. Well, enough of the pretend-people. For the rest of this week, we'll review some other words to describe people. -Anu ............................................................................ The best effect of fine persons is felt after we have left their presence. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882) Send your comments about words to anu@wordsmith.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe A.Word.A.Day, send a message to wsmith@wordsmith.org with "Subject:" line as "subscribe <Your Name<" or "unsubscribe". Archives, FAQ, gift subscription form, and more at: http://wordsmith.org/awad/ Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/philosophaster.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/philosophaster.ram
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