n. The branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity. [Greek epistēmē, knowledge (from epistasthai, epistē-, to understand : epi-, epi- + histasthai, middle voice of histanai, to place, determine; see stā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + -LOGY.] e·pis′te·mo·logi·cal (-mə-lŏjĭ-kəl) adj. e·pis′te·mo·logi·cal·ly adv. e·pis′te·molo·gist n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.