skeptic

• sceptic (British English)

From Latin *scepticus, only in plural Sceptici (“the sect of Skeptics”), from Ancient Greek σκεπτικός (skeptikós, “thoughtful, inquiring”), from σκέπτομαι (sképtomai, “I consider”), compare to σκοπέω (skopéō, “I view, examine”). (Note: In French, C in front of E and I had shifted (or was shifting) from the original [k] sound of Latin to the [s] sound, which might explain the double spelling, as some might have wanted to make sure that [k] would remain [k] by bringing back the K from the Greek spelling.)

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɛptɪk/

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skeptic (plural skeptics) (American spelling)

1. Someone who habitually doubts beliefs and claims presented as accepted by others, requiring strong evidence before accepting any belief or claim.
2. Someone undecided as to what is true.
3. A type of agnostic; someone skeptical towards religion.

• skeptical
• skepticism

• “skeptic” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
• skeptic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• skeptic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• skeptic at OneLook Dictionary Search

• pickest, pickets, septick, spicket