See Also: peripatetic(medicine)
peripatetic(dictionary)
peripatetic(dictionary)

peripatetic (iou)



peripatetic noun & adjective. LME.
[Old & mod. French peripatetique or Latin peripateticus from Greek peripatetikos, from peripatein walk up and down, formed as PERI- + patein to tread: see -ETIC. In senses A.1, B.1 with reference to Aristotle's practice of walking about while teaching.]
A. noun.
1. (Peripatetic.) A member of the sect of philosophers who held the doctrines of Aristotle. LME.
2. A person who walks or travels about; (chiefly joc.) an itinerant dealer or trader; a peripatetic teacher. E17.
3. In pl. Journeyings to and fro; movements hither and thither. joc. M18.
B. adjective.
1. (Peripatetic.) Of or belonging to the school or system of philosophy founded by Aristotle, or the Aristotelian sect of philosophers; held or believed by this sect. M16.
2. Walking about or travelling from place to place, esp. in connection with an occupation; characterized by this; (of a teacher) working in more than one institution. M17.
Observer He leads a peripatetic life, rarely sleeping in the same bed two nights running.
peripatetical adjective (now rare) (a) (Peripatetical) of or pertaining to the Peripatetics; = PERIPATETIC adjective 1; (b) (chiefly joc.) = PERIPATETIC adjective 2: M16.
peripatetically adverb in the course of walking about or moving on M19.
peripateticism noun (a) (Peripateticism) the Peripatetic system of philosophy; (b) (chiefly joc.) the habit or practice of being peripatetic: M17.