Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Skeptic
Skep′tic
,Noun.
[Gr.
σκεπτικόσ
thoughtful, reflective, fr. σκέπτεσθαι
to look carefully or about, to view, consider: cf. L. scepticus
, F. sceptique
. See Scope
.] [Written also
sceptic
.] 1.
One who is yet undecided as to what is true; one who is looking or inquiring for what is true; an inquirer after facts or reasons.
2.
(Metaph.)
A doubter as to whether any fact or truth can be certainly known; a universal doubter; a Pyrrhonist; hence, in modern usage, occasionally, a person who questions whether any truth or fact can be established on philosophical grounds; sometimes, a critical inquirer, in opposition to a dogmatist.
All this criticism [of Hume] proceeds upon the erroneous hypothesis that he was a dogmatist. He was a
skeptic
; that is, he accepted the principles asserted by the prevailing dogmatism: and only showed that such and such conclusions were, on these principles, inevitable. Sir W. Hamilton.
3.
(Theol.)
A person who doubts the existence and perfections of God, or the truth of revelation; one who disbelieves the divine origin of the Christian religion.
Suffer not your faith to be shaken by the sophistries of
skeptics
. S. Clarke.
☞ This word and its derivatives are often written with c instead of k in the first syllable, – sceptic, sceptical, scepticism, etc. Dr. Johnson, struck with the extraordinary irregularity of giving c its hard sound before e, altered the spelling, and his example has been followed by most of the lexicographers who have succeeded him; yet the prevalent practice among English writers and printers is in favor of the other mode. In the United States this practice is reversed, a large and increasing majority of educated persons preferring the orthography which is most in accordance with etymology and analogy.
Syn. – Infidel; unbeliever; doubter. – See
Infidel
.