Platonic

views updated Jun 11 2018

Pla·ton·ic / pləˈtänik/ • adj. of or associated with the Greek philosopher Plato or his ideas. ∎  (platonic) (of love or friendship) intimate and affectionate but not sexual: their relationship is purely platonic. ∎  (platonic) confined to words, theories, or ideals, and not leading to practical action.DERIVATIVES: pla·ton·i·cal·ly / -(ə)lē/ adv.

Platonic

views updated May 29 2018

Platonic pert. to Plato, Greek philosopher (c.429–347 B.C.)XVI; P. love, tr. medL. amor platonicus, used synon. with amor socraticus by Marsilio Ficino (XV) to denote the kind of interest in young men with which Socrates was credited XVII. — L. Platōnicus — Gr. Platōnikós, f. Plátōn; see -IC.
So Platonism, Platonist XVI.

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Platonic

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