Word of the Day: Peripatetic

Peripatetic

ˌperəpəˈtedik

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NOUN

• A person who travels from place to place.

• (Peripatetic) An Aristotelian philosopher.

ADJECTIVE

• Traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods.

• (Peripatetic) Aristotelian. [With reference to Aristotle’s practice of walking to and fro while teaching.]

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

"After several years in the same city, he wanted a more peripatetic lifestyle.”

"Her wanderlust shines through in her peripatetic adventures.”

“I’m tired of the 9 to 5 in the office, and I want to be a peripatetic.” 

WORD ORIGIN

Greek, mid-15th century

WHY THIS WORD?

Nomads and restless explorers lead peripatetic lives. “Peripatetic” (used as both a noun and an adjective) originally referred to anyone who travels from one place to another on foot, but its most recent usage applies to those who do so while working — also known as “digital nomads.” As Tolkien wrote, not all who wander are lost.