Pseudoscience

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Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions

Pseudo: being apparently rather than actually as stated : SHAM, SPURIOUS.

Pseudoscience: a system of theories, assumptions, and methods erroneously regarded as scientific.

Scientific: 1. of, relating to, or exhibiting the methods or principles of science.
2. conducted in the manner of science or according to results of investigation by science : practicing or using thorough or systematic methods.

Science: 1. the state of knowing : knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding.
2. a. a department of systematized knowledge as an object of study.
b. something (such as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge.
3. a. knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method.
b. such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena : NATURAL SCIENCE.

Lexico definitions

Pseudo-: 1. Supposed or purporting to be but not really so; false; not genuine.
2. Resembling or imitating.

Pseudoscience: A collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method.

Scientific: Based on or characterized by the methods and principles of science.

Science: The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary etymologies

Pseudo: Middle English, from Late Latin pseudo-. First known use; 15th century, in the meaning defined above.

Pseudoscience: N/A. First known use; 1796, in the meaning defined above.

Scientific: Medieval Latin scientificus producing knowledge, from Latin scient-, sciens + -i- + -ficus -fic. First known use; 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1.

Science: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin scientia, from scient-, sciens having knowledge, from present participle of scire to know; perhaps akin to Sanskrit chyati he cuts off, Latin scindere to split. First known use; 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1.

Lexico etymologies

Pseudo-: From Greek pseudēs ‘false’, pseudos ‘falsehood’.

Pseudoscience: N/A.

Scientific: Late 16th century from French scientifique or late Latin scientificus ‘producing knowledge’, from scientia (see science). Early use described the liberal arts as opposed to the ‘mechanic’ arts (i.e. arts requiring manual skill).

Science: Middle English (denoting knowledge): from Old French, from Latin scientia, from scire ‘know’.

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References:

[1] – https://www.merriam-webster.com/

[2] – https://www.lexico.com/

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