metaphysical
UK/.metә'fizikl/US
GREC1
Definitions
adj.
Relating to metaphysics; concerned with abstract questions of existence and reality beyond the physical world
形而上学的；关乎存在与实在等超越物质世界的抽象问题的
adj.
Too abstract or subtle; supernatural
过于抽象玄奥的；超自然的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedmeta-beyond, change
+
-alrelating to, having the nature of
=metaphysical
meta- (beyond) + physic (nature/the physical) + -al = 'beyond the physical.' The meta- here started as 'after' (Aristotle's book came after his Physics) but was reread as 'beyond,' so metaphysical describes what lies past the material world: existence, reality, the supernatural. See metaphysics for the full story.
Root physic still carries 8 more wordsExample Sentences
- 1.
The poem raises metaphysical questions about life and death.
- 2.
Her argument drifted into metaphysical territory I couldn't follow.
- 3.
He claimed the painting had a strange, metaphysical quality.