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The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section P and Q · Project Gutenberg — chapter 238 of 752 · ~523 words · public domain

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Phil`o*math"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. philomathique.] 1. Of or pertaining to philomathy.

2. Having love of learning or letters.

Phi*lom"a*thy (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;.] The love of learning or letters.

Phil"o*mel (?), n. Same as Philomela, the nightingale. [Poetic] Milton. Cowper.

Phil`o*me"la (?), n. [L. philomela, Gr. &?;, according to the legend, from &?; Philomela (daughter of Pandion, king of Athens), who was changed into a nightingale.] 1. The nightingale; philomel. Shak.

2. (Zoˆl.) A genus of birds including the nightingales.

Phil"o*mene (?), n. The nightingale. [Obs.]

Phil"o*mot (?), a. [See Filemot.] Of the color of a dead leaf. [Obs.] Addison.

Phil`o*mu"sic*al (?), a. [Philo- + musical.] Loving music. [R.]Busby.

Phil`o*pe"na (?), n. [Probably a corruption fr. G. vielliebchen, LG. vielliebken, or D. veelliebken, a philopena, literally, much loved; but influenced by Gr. &?; a friend, and L. poena penalty, from an idea that the gift was a penalty of friendship or love.] A present or gift which is made as a forfeit in a social game that is played in various ways; also, the game itself. [Written also fillipeen and phillippine.]

One of the ways may be stated as follows: A person finding a nut with two kernels eats one, and gives the other to a person of the opposite sex, and then whichever says philopena first at the next meeting wins the present. The name is also applied to the kernels eaten.

{ Phil`o*po*lem"ic (?), Phil`o*po*lem"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?; fond of war, warlike; &?; loving + &?; war.] Fond of polemics or controversy. [R.]

Phil`o*pro*gen"i*tive (?), a. Having the love of offspring; fond of children.

Phil`o*pro*gen"i*tive*ness, n. [Philo- + L. progenies offspring.] (Phren.) The love of offspring; fondness for children.

Phi*los"o*phas`ter (?), n. [L., a bad philosopher, fr. philosophus: cf. OF. philosophastre.] A pretender to philosophy. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Phi*los"o*phate (?), v. i. [L. philosophatus, p. p. of philosophari to philosophize.] To play the philosopher; to moralize. [Obs.] Barrow.

Phi*los`o*pha"tion (?), n. Philosophical speculation and discussion. [Obs.] Sir W. Petty.

Phil"o*sophe (?), n. [F., a philosopher.] A philosophaster; a philosopher. [R.] Carlyle.

Phi*los"o*pheme (?), n. [Gr. &?;, from &?; to love knowledge.] A philosophical proposition, doctrine, or principle of reasoning. [R.]

This, the most venerable, and perhaps the most ancient, of Grecian myths, is a philosopheme.

Coleridge.

Phi*los"o*pher (?), n. [OE. philosophre, F. philosophe, L. philosophus, Gr. &?;; &?; loving + &?; wise. Cf. Philosophy.] 1. One who philosophizes; one versed in, or devoted to, philosophy.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him.

Acts xvii. 18.

2. One who reduces the principles of philosophy to practice in the conduct of life; one who lives according to the rules of practical wisdom; one who meets or regards all vicissitudes with calmness.

3. An alchemist. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Philosopher's stone, an imaginary stone which the alchemists formerly sought as instrument of converting the baser metals into gold.

{ Phil`o*soph"ic (?), Phil`o*soph"ic*al (?), } a. [L. philosophicus: cf. F. philosophique.] Of or pertaining to philosophy; versed in, or imbued with, the principles of philosophy; hence, characterizing a philosopher; rational; wise; temperate; calm; cool. -- Phil`o*soph"ic*al*ly, adv.

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