Have any of you heard of zetetic? I hadn't heard of it, but my logophile friend introduced me to it.

It means 'inquiring' or 'investigative,' as in "zetetic minds," evidently coming from Greek and Latin words ("zeteticus" and "zeteticos").

It sounds so useful. I wonder why we don't use it much. Or...is it more common than I am aware of?

I don't recall ever hearing it before, Kalleh. Great word, though. I guess it describes most/all of us on the board, though, doesn't it?

Now THERE is a word for your "fake bad words" thread. Say it loudly, and with conviction!

YOU ZETETIC, YOU!

Never heard it myself, and M-W seems to treat it lightly..

You ateliotic zetetic, you! There, how's THAT for an insult!

I'd not come across it before, either. You should have saved it for the Bluffing Game, Kalleh!

From the Greek zêteô 'to seek, desire, inquire'. Latin studens < studeo 'to be eager, desire, apply one's self', whence our student.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:
You ateliotic zetetic, you! There, how's _THAT_ for an insult!

---

Exactly so, Asa!

You should have saved it for the Bluffing Game, Kalleh!

Well, arnie, with jheem's etymology, we all know you would have figured it out!

My logophile friend says it also was used as a noun meaning 'a member of the ancient Greek skeptics,' the skeptics being a group of philosophers who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.

My wonderful old book, Boners, records this from some long ago schoolboy: "The Stoics were followers of Zero, who believed in nothing."

quote:

---

Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:
My wonderful old book, _Boners_, records this from some long ago schoolboy: "The Stoics were followers of Zero, who believed in nothing."

---

I've requested that book from the library - thanks for mentioning it!

quote:

---

My wonderful old book, _Boners_, records this from some long ago schoolboy: "The Stoics were followers of Zero, who believed in nothing."...

I've requested that book from the library - thanks for mentioning it!

---

Good luck! It was published in 1931, and is now a rare book. There's a Pocket Book edition that's easier to find, having been published in 1941, and last, if memory serves aright, in 1961. The subtitle of the Pocket Book edition is "An omnibus of school boy howlers and unconscious humor."

I think I'll share it with everyone by starting a thread with quotations from it!

Hmm - I'll have to see exactly what the book turns out to be that I reserved, then! It should be waiting for me at work tomorrow, and we'll compare.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours!