hermeneutic
/ˌhɜrməˈnjuːtɪk/
noun
- A method or principle of interpretation, especially of texts.
- Each generation develops its own hermeneutic for understanding classic literature.
- The hermeneutic of the Bible has evolved over centuries of study.
- The professor explained the hermeneutic used by medieval scholars to read scripture.
adjective
- Relating to the interpretation of texts, especially religious, literary, or philosophical works.
- The scholar used a hermeneutic approach to analyze the ancient poem.
- Her hermeneutic study of the novel revealed layers of meaning that were not obvious at first.
- Hermeneutic methods help readers understand the cultural context of historical documents.
- Relating to the theory and practice of interpretation in general.
- A hermeneutic perspective encourages asking how our own biases shape understanding.
- The philosopher's work on hermeneutic theory influenced many fields beyond literature.
- The course covered hermeneutic principles used in legal and literary analysis.
Synonyms