zetetic, adj. & n.

zetetic
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zetetic_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zeteticadjective & noun

## Earlier version

- zetetic, a. and n. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the word zetetic mean?

There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the word zetetic, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

zetetic has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

ancient Greek history (mid 1600s) philosophy (mid 1600s) mathematics (late 1600s)

### How common is the word zetetic?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1790 | 0.0022
1800 | 0.0018
1810 | 0.0016
1820 | 0.0014
1830 | 0.0014
1840 | 0.002
1850 | 0.0017
1860 | 0.0017
1870 | 0.0018
1880 | 0.0019
1890 | 0.0021
1900 | 0.002
1910 | 0.0015
1920 | 0.0018
1930 | 0.0025
1940 | 0.0032
1950 | 0.0037
1960 | 0.005
1970 | 0.0059
1980 | 0.0069
1990 | 0.0071
2000 | 0.0073
2010 | 0.0076

### How is the word zetetic pronounced?

#### British English

/zᵻˈtɛtɪk/
zuh-TET-ik

#### U.S. English

/zəˈtɛdɪk/
zuh-TED-ik

### Where does the word zetetic come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1600s

The earliest known use of the word zetetic is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for zetetic is from 1645, in the writing of Thomas Urquhart, author and translator.

zetetic is a borrowing from Latin.

Etymons: Latin zeteticus.

### Nearby entries

1. zestful, adj. 1797–
2. zestfully, adv. 1843–
3. zestiness, n. 1912–
4. zesty, adj. 1826–
5. zeta, n.¹?a1425–
6. zeta, n.² 1706–1860
7. zetacism, n. 1860–
8. zeta function, n. 1879–
9. zeta-ic, adj. 1840–1927
10. zeta potential, n. 1927–
11. zetetic, adj. & n.1645–
12. zetetical, adj. & n. 1646–
13. zetetically, adv. 1665–
14. Zetetical Society, n. 1881–
15. zetetics, n. 1843–
16. Zetland, n. 1577–
17. Zetlander, n. 1614–
18. Zetlandic, adj. 1701–
19. zetta-, comb. form
20. Zeuglodon, n. 1839–
21. zeuglodont, n. & adj. 1850–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Latin.
Etymon: Latin zeteticus.
< post-classical Latin zeteticus (1591 in a work title: Zeteticorum libri quinque by François Viète) < ancient Greek ζητητικός disposed to search or inquire < ζητητής seeker, inquirer (< ζητεῖν to seek…
< post-classical Latin zeteticus (1591 in a work title: Zeteticorum libri quinque by François Viète) < ancient Greek ζητητικός disposed to search or inquire < ζητητής seeker, inquirer (< ζητεῖν to seek, inquire (see zeal n.) + ‑τής, suffix forming agent nouns) + ‑ικός ‑ic suffix.

Compare slightly later zetetical adj.

### Notes

Specific senses
With use as noun compare Hellenistic Greek οἱ ζητητικοί (plural), name given to the Sceptics, and ἡ ζητητική (feminine) Sceptic philosophy.
With sense B.1 compare French zététique, masculine noun (1630 in a translation of Viète's work). Compare also the following slightly earlier example of post-classical Latin zetetici, plural, in an English context:

1. 1657

   > Many others by reason of this professed ignorance, were called..Sceptici, Ephetici, Zetetici and Aporetici, i. e. Considerers, unresolved Seekers, Doubters.

   E. Porter, Trin-unus-deus ii. 11

In sense B.2 perhaps after French zététique (1691 in the passage translated in quot. 1702).

## Meaning & use

1. adjective
   1. 1645–
      Inquiring, investigating; proceeding by inquiry or investigation.
      In quot. 1645 used with humorous intent.
      zetetic astronomy noun (after the title of Rowbotham's pamphlet on the subject: see quot. 1849) the theory that the earth is a flat disc, and that the sun, moon, and stars are in motion a short distance above it; hence zetetic astronomer.
      1. 1645

         > Zetetick, is said of Loxogonosphericall Moods which agree in the same quæsitas.

         T. Urquhart, Trissotetras sig. Pv
      2. 1660

         > This was called the Zetetick Philosophy, from its continuall enquiry after truth.

         T. Stanley, History of Philosophy vol. III. iv. 1
      3. 1704

         > Zetetick Method in Mathematicks, is the Analytick, or Algebraick way.

         J. Harris, Lexicon Technicum vol. I
      4. 1799

         > When shall the ingannations of prejudice be delacerated, and the catachrestical reasonings of facinorous aristocrats be dispanded by the zetetic spirit of the eighteenth century?

         G. Walker, Vagabond vol. II. ii. 37
      5. 1849

         > Zetetic Astronomy. A description of several experiments which prove that the surface of the sea is a perfect plane and that the Earth is not a Globe!

         S. B. Rowbotham (title)
      6. 1885

         > A party of Zetetic astronomers with scientific instruments.

         Bookseller 7 January 12/1
      7. 1939

         > A well-known actress.., when asked by a zetetic reporter what was her favorite superstition, replied, ‘Thank Heaven, I have none!’—and unconsciously ‘knocked wood’ as she spoke.

         J. Trachtenberg, Jewish Magic & Superstition xi. 153
      8. 1971

         > This paper is zetetic rather than expository.

         A. L. Peck in Ess. Ancient Greek Philosophy iii. 478
      9. 2001

         > Aristotle seeks to cultivate in his students a zetetic, critical stance toward their own regime.

         T. W. Smith, Revaluing Ethics i. 26
      1. perquiring 1598
         Inquisitive, inquiring. Obsolete.
      2. exploratory 1620–
         Of or relating to exploration; connected with investigation or searching.
      3. zetetic 1645–
         Inquiring, investigating; proceeding by inquiry or investigation.
      4. zetetical 1646–
         Inquiring, investigating; proceeding by inquiry or investigation; = zetetic, adj.
      5. disquisitive 1647–
         Characterized by or given to disquisition; given to research or investigation; inquiring.
      6. probing 1749–
         That probes; piercing, penetrating; inquisitive.
      7. disquisitorial 1806–
         Of or belonging to a disquisitor; investigating; inquiring.
      8. investigating 1830–
         That investigates a person or thing (in various senses of the verb); esp. that is charged with conducting a systematic or formal investigation…
      9. disquisitory 1860–
         = disquisitorial, adj.
      10. perusing 1878–
          Designating a person or thing given to reading.
      11. pickbrain 1903–
          a. n. A person who picks another's brains; b. adj. (attributive), that picks one's brains.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. noun
   1. 1.
      1658–
      An investigator, an inquirer; spec. (frequently capitalized) an adherent of the ancient Greek sceptic school of philosophy (see sceptic adj., sceptic n. A.1).
      1. 1658

         > In the latter you shew your self to me a Cordiall friend, in the other an ingenious and discreet Zetetick.

         G. Starkey, Pyrotechny 159
      2. 1660

         > These all were called Pyrrhonians from their Master; Aporeticks, and Scepticks, and Ephecticks, and Zeteticks, from their (as it were) Doctrine.

         T. Stanley, History of Philosophy vol. III. iv. 3
      3. 1670

         > They [sc. the Scepticks] were stiled ζητητικοί, Zeteticks, because they were ever seeking, but never found the truth.

         T. Gale, Court of Gentiles: Part II iv. iv. 435
      4. 1751

         > Or of what was the Use of Searching, expressed by their [sc. the sceptics'] other Name Zetetics, where avowedly nothing was to be found.

         London Daily Advertiser & Literary Gazette 27 July
      5. 1838

         > The ancient Pyrrhonists were called Zetetics or seekers.

         J. Rowbotham, Dictionary 66
      6. 1895

         > They were known as Sceptics and Zetetics, to indicate that they were always in search of truth without flattering themselves that they had found it.

         Med. Age 10 January 6/2
      7. 1914

         > The Zetetics were a school of philosophers who were so called because they professed to be ‘seekers after the truth’.

         D. J. Burrell, We would see Jesus vii. 46
      8. 2003

         > I am a zetetic, an agnostic who will try to find out.

         Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 6 December (A2 section) 2
      ancient Greek history philosophy
      1. Pyrrhonian 1556–
         A follower or adherent of Pyrrho of Elis; an advocate of Pyrrhonism; a sceptic.
      2. sceptic 1556–
         Philosophy. Also with capital initial. A person who claims that knowledge of some class of propositions (esp. those concerning the external world)…
      3. Pyrrhonic 1593–
         = Pyrrhonian, n. Now rare.
      4. Pyrrhonist 1598–
         = Pyrrhonian, n.
      5. Epochist 1603
         A philosopher of the Ephectic School. Obsolete.
      6. zetetic 1658–
         An investigator, an inquirer; spec. (frequently capitalized) an adherent of the ancient Greek sceptic school of philosophy (see sceptic, adj., sceptic…
      7. New Academic 1660–
         A member or adherent of the New Academy.
      8. acataleptic 1679–
         An adherent of the doctrine of acatalepsy; a sceptic.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. 2.
      1692–1853
      † Originally, with reference to the work of French mathematician François Viète (1540–1603): a method of solving mathematical problems by expressing them in the form of equations and solving these algebraically, according to certain laws (cf. zetetics n.). In later use more generally: the systematic analysis of problems. Obsolete. rare.
      In quot. 1692 perhaps: the system of letters used by Viète in his method to denote constants and variables.
      1. 1692

         > Zetetique, numbers used in Algebra and Equations by the famous Vieta.

         H. Coley, Moxon's Mathematicks made Easie (ed. 2) 181
      2. 1702

         > Zetetick [French Zetetique], is a Method made use of to solve Mathematical Problems.

         translation of J. Ozanam, Math. Dictionary
      3. 1853

         > [Logic] has been called..Zetetic or the Art of seeking.

         W. Thomson, Outline of Laws of Thought (ed. 3) §35
      mathematics
      1. conclusion c1400–1663
         Something propounded for solution or mathematical demonstration; a proposition, problem.
      2. problem 1570–
         Mathematics and Science. A proposition in which a specified action is required to be done (originally in Geometry, contrasted with a theorem, where…
      3. zetetic 1692–1853
         Originally, with reference to the work of French mathematician François Viète (1540–1603): a method of solving mathematical problems by expressing…
      4. prob 1700–
         A problem.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zᵻˈtɛtɪk/
zuh-TET-ik

### U.S. English

/zəˈtɛdɪk/
zuh-TED-ik

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1600s
   zetetique
2. 1600s–1700s
   zetetick
3. 1700s–
   zetetic

## Frequency

zetetic typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zetetic is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zetetic, adj. & n., 1790–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1790 | 0.0022
1800 | 0.0018
1810 | 0.0016
1820 | 0.0014
1830 | 0.0014
1840 | 0.002
1850 | 0.0017
1860 | 0.0017
1870 | 0.0018
1880 | 0.0019
1890 | 0.0021
1900 | 0.002
1910 | 0.0015
1920 | 0.0018
1930 | 0.0025
1940 | 0.0032
1950 | 0.0037
1960 | 0.005
1970 | 0.0059
1980 | 0.0069
1990 | 0.0071
2000 | 0.0073
2010 | 0.0076

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. zetetically, adv. 1665–
   By way of inquiry or investigation.

1. zetetics, n. 1843–
   The study of mathematical problems by expressing…

zetetic, adj. & n. was revised in June 2018.

zetetic, adj. & n. was last modified in September 2024.