From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Sceptic \Scep"tic\, Sceptical \Scep"tic*al\, Scepticism
\Scep"ti*cism\, etc.
See {Skeptic}, {Skeptical}, {Skepticism}, etc.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Skeptic \Skep"tic\, n. [Gr. skeptiko`s thoughtful, reflective,
fr. ske`ptesqai 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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Suffer not your faith to be shaken by the
sophistries of skeptics. --S. Clarke.
[1913 Webster]
Note: 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.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Infidel; unbeliever; doubter. -- See {Infidel}.
[1913 Webster] Skeptic
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
sceptic
n 1: someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs [syn:
{skeptic}, {sceptic}, {doubter}]
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