Standard Lemma guide

zetetic

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /zəˈtɛt.ɪk/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Proceeding by inquiry or investigation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

Examples

  • 1865, Samuel Birley Rowbotham, Zetetic Astronomy, 2022 facsimile reprint, Salzwasser Verlag, page 6, Hence, in every zetetic process, the conclusion arrived at is essentially a quotient, which, if the details be correct, must, of necessity, be true beyond the reach or power of contradiction.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of or pertaining to zetetic astronomy (which employs zetetic principles to argue that the earth is flat).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • 1887, Marcellus John Thompson, "Evolution of Sound" Evolved: A Review..., Standard Publishing Company, page xix, But another craze, much similar to Dr. Hall's philosophy, is now running its course among us, namely the Zetetic Philosophy, or the theory that the earth is flat—advocated especially by John Hampden, of England, and William Carpenter, of the United States. These people believe, with Parson Jasper, that "the sun do move."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A skeptic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ζητητικός (zētētikós, “inquisitive, keen”), from ζητέω (zētéō, “I seek”).

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: zetètic — Translations
  • Esperanto: zetetika — Translations
  • Finnish: zeteettinen — Translations
  • French: zététique — Translations
  • Italian: zetetico — Translations
  • Occitan: zetetic — Translations
  • Portuguese: zetético — Translations
  • Czech: skeptik — a sceptic, skeptic — see also skeptic
  • Finnish: skeptikko — a sceptic, skeptic — see also skeptic
  • French: zététique — a sceptic, skeptic — see also skeptic
  • Occitan: zetetic — a sceptic, skeptic — see also skeptic
  • Russian: ске́птик (sképtik) — a sceptic, skeptic — see also skeptic