polymath
nounUK /ˈpɒlɪmæθ/ · US /ˈpɑliˌmæθ/
Etymology Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πολυμαθής (polumathḗs, “having learnt much”), first attested in 1624. From πολύς (polús, “much”) (for more, see poly-) + μανθάνω (manthánō, “to learn”). Compare opsimath, philomath, polyhistor, polymathic, polymathist, and polymathy.
1
A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.
- To be thought and held Polumathes and Polihistors.1624, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy (2ⁿᵈ edn.), p.6
- A bit of a polymath, he was crucial in the early development of the railways in this country.2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques”, in RAIL, number 947, page 56:
- Derived terms
- polymathic
- Related terms
- polymathist, polymathy, factotum, handyman, jack of all trades, sciolist