polymath

== English == === Alternative forms === polumathe, polymathe [both 17th century] === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈpɒlɪmæθ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpɑliˌmæθ/, /ˈpɑlɪmæθ/ === Noun === polymath (plural polymaths) A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge. Synonyms: polyhistor, Renaissance man Coordinate terms: automath, monomath, opsimath 1624, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy (2nd edn.), p.6: To be thought and held Polumathes and Polihistors. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== === References === “polymath, n. (a.)” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd ed., 1989] “polymath, n. and adj.” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [3rd ed., September 2006]