Peripatetics

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A philosophical school focused on the ideas of Aristotle, emphasizing practical ethics and empirical observation of the world
2. A term denoting itinerant scholars or teachers who engage students in discussions while walking
3. Pertaining to the movement and engagement in discourse while traveling, reflecting a blend of philosophy and physical activity

Etymology: The Peripatetics took their name from a habit rather than a doctrine. Aristotle taught at the Lyceum in Athens, and the Greek word "peripatētikos" meant "given to walking about," a reference to the way he and his students were said to stroll the grounds while they talked. Over time the nickname stuck to the school itself. The Greek roots are simple: "peri" meaning "around" and "patein" meaning "to walk." The Greek adjective passed into Latin as "peripatēticus" and then into French as "péripatétique," from which English took the singular "peripatetic." That singular has since broadened to mean anyone who moves restlessly from place to place, so the plural form now names a school of philosophers while the singular describes a wanderer.