metaphysical
[ met-uh-fiz-i-kuh l ]
/ ˌmɛt əˈfɪz ɪ kəl /
adjective
pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics.
Philosophy.
- concerned with abstract thought or subjects, as existence, causality, or truth.
- concerned with first principles and ultimate grounds, as being, time, or substance.
highly abstract, subtle, or abstruse.
designating or pertaining to the poetry of an early group of 17th-century English poets, notably John Donne, whose characteristic style is highly intellectual and philosophical and features intensive use of ingenious conceits and turns of wit.
Archaic.
imaginary or fanciful.
Origin of metaphysical
OTHER WORDS FROM metaphysical
Words nearby metaphysical
metaphrast,
metaphys.,
metaphysial dysostosis,
metaphysial dysplasia,
metaphysic,
metaphysical,
metaphysician,
metaphysicize,
metaphysics,
metaphysis,
metaphyte
Example sentences from the Web for metaphysical
British Dictionary definitions for metaphysical (1 of 2)
metaphysical
/ (ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl) /
adjective
relating to or concerned with metaphysics
(of a statement or theory) having the form of an empirical hypothesis, but in fact immune from empirical testing and therefore (in the view of the logical positivists) literally meaningless
(popularly) abstract, abstruse, or unduly theoretical
incorporeal; supernatural
Derived forms of metaphysical
metaphysically, adverbBritish Dictionary definitions for metaphysical (2 of 2)
Metaphysical
/ (ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl) /
adjective
denoting or relating to certain 17th-century poets who combined intense feeling with ingenious thought and often used elaborate imagery and conceits. Notable among them were Donne, Herbert, and Marvell
noun
a poet of this group