atomist en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈætəmɪst/
Etymology
Etymology tree English atom Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English atomist From atom + -ist.
Meanings
-
An adherent of atomism; one who believes matter is composed of elementary indivisible particles.
What distinguished the atomists from their opponents was not the belief in tiny particles that make up matter, but the question of what separated them.
2002, Phillip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, published 2004, page 9:
- An adherent of the atomic theory.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| atomists | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (2)
pl atomista (an adherent of atomism) · pl atomista (an adherent of atomic theory)