Laughing Philosopher
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Democntus of Abdera (5th cent. B.C.), who viewed with supreme contempt the feeble powers of man. Cp. WEEPING PHILOSOPHER.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Laughing Philosopher” mean?
Democntus of Abdera (5th cent. B.C.), who viewed with supreme contempt the feeble powers of man. Cp. WEEPING PHILOSOPHER.
Is “Laughing Philosopher” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.