sopho-, soph-, sophic, -soph, -sopher, -sophy [-osophy] -sophical, -sophically, -sophist

(Greek: wise, wisdom; knowledge)

sophism (s) (noun), sophisms (pl)
sophist (s) (noun), sophists (pl)
sophistic (adjective), more sophistic, most sophistic
sophisticate (suh FIS ti kayt") (verb), sophisticates; sophisticated; sophisticating
To cause a person to have a great deal of knowledge about the world and about culture, art, literature, etc.: As a result of traveling and studying the various socially transmitted behavior patterns, beliefs, institutions, and all of the other results of human works and thoughts over the years, the anthropologist had been sophisticated beyond belief.

People are finding that the contents of Patrick's novel is sophisticating many of his readers.

Tom’s university education had sophisticated his language and behavior so much that his friends didn’t feel comfortable being with him anymore when he was visiting his family in the village.

2. To make more complex or inclusive; to refine: The professor asked his students to sophisticate their essays before they turned them in for evaluations and grades.

sophisticate (s) (suh FIS ti kit", suh FIS ti kuht") (noun), sophisticates (pl)
Someone who is knowledgeable about the ways of the world and about culture, taste, and refined manners: Tom's daughter was a well educated sophisticate who did a great deal of traveling for her company and met many other sophisticates who increased the qualities of her experiences.
sophisticated (suh FIS ti kayt" id) (adjective), more sophisticated, most sophisticated
1. Concerning something which is highly developed or complex: Rebecca’s mother loved to sew clothes for herself and even such sophisticated and intricate ones with collars, cuffs, and pockets on the coats that she created.
2. Pertaining to someone who has a cultivated and cultured knowledge of the world and its ways; especially, by means of many experiences: Mrs. Smart was a well-traveled and sophisticated lady who was also very poised and polished in her manners.
Descriptive of complex knowledge or very wordy.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

sophistication (s) (noun), sophistications (pl)
sophistry (SAHF i stree) (s) (noun), sophistries (pl)
Tricky or dishonest arguments; especially, in order to deceive others: The commercials on TV use a lot of sophistries in order to persuade the viewers into buying their products which supposedly have the best results, like losing weight, having the brightest teeth ever, or winning in the lottery with just one tip!
Reasoning that is superficially plausible but is fallacious.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

Sophoclean (SAHF uh klee" uhn (adjective), more Sophoclean, most Sophoclean
1. Characteristic of great sadness, or a disastrous event, that has involved a distressing loss or injury in a person's life: The Sophoclean tragedy in Greg’s life was losing all of his money when gambling, resulting in a loss of his wife, children, house, car, and even his job.
2. Etymology: Sophocles is formed from sophos, "wise" + -klees, "glorious, famous"; and so it means "famous for wisdom".
Relating to the Athenian tragic poet Sophocles or his dramas.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

sophomania (s) (noun), sophomanias (pl)
1. An abnormal over estimation of one's own wisdom.
2. A passion for grandiose statements about himself or herself.
sophomore (s) (noun), sophomores (pl)
1. A second-year student in a U.S. college or a tenth-grade student in a U.S. high school.
2. A person in the second year of carrying out an endeavor.
3. Perhaps by the influence of folk etymology; from Greek sophos, "wise" + moros, "foolish, mentally dull".
sophomoric (adjective), more sophomoric, most sophomoric
1. Exhibiting great immaturity and lack of judgment: Jane's sophomoric behavior was unacceptable.
2. Suggestive of or resembling a traditional intellectually pretentious, overconfident, conceited, and immature person: Hank often asks sophomoric questions in his history class.
sophomorically (adverb), more sophomorically, most sophomorically
sophophobia (s) (noun) (no plural)
An intense dread of intellectualism or of learning: Sophophobia was so ingrained in her head that Susan refused to grasp even the simplest facts or discover things by experience!
theanthroposophy (s) (noun), theanthroposophies (pl)
A system of belief concerning a God-man: Theanthroposophy is a doctrine that relates to Christ as being both God and human.
theosophic (adjective), more theosophic, most theosophic
A reference to the religious speculation about the nature of the soul that is based on a mystical insight into the nature of God.

Inter-related cross references, directly or indirectly, involving word units meaning "know, knowledge; learn, learning": cogni-; discip-; gno-; histor-; intellect-; learn, know; math-; sap-; sci-.