albertus magnus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (primarily academic/historical contexts)Academic, Historical, Ecclesiastical
Quick answer
What does “albertus magnus” mean?
A prominent German philosopher, theologian, and scientist of the High Middle Ages (c. 1200–1280), known as 'Doctor Universalis' for his vast knowledge.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A prominent German philosopher, theologian, and scientist of the High Middle Ages (c. 1200–1280), known as 'Doctor Universalis' for his vast knowledge.
Refers to the historical figure Saint Albert the Great, a Dominican friar, bishop, and patron saint of natural scientists, renowned for his efforts to integrate Aristotelian philosophy with Christian thought.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage, though British academic writing may more frequently reference him in contexts of medieval history, while American references might appear more in Catholic theological contexts.
Connotations
Scholarship, medieval science, the Dominican order, the teacher of Thomas Aquinas.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse; almost exclusively found in specialist literature.
Grammar
How to Use “albertus magnus” in a Sentence
Albertus Magnus + verb (e.g., argued, wrote, taught)the works/theories/philosophy of + Albertus MagnusVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, philosophy, theology, and history of science departments. (e.g., 'Albertus Magnus's commentary on Aristotle's Metaphysics...')
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used in specialised historical or theological texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “albertus magnus”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “albertus magnus”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “albertus magnus”
- Using 'Albertus Magnus' as a common noun or adjective.
- Misspelling as 'Albertus Magus' (which would mean 'Albert the Magician').
- Incorrect capitalisation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, he was canonised in 1931 and is the patron saint of natural scientists.
It is Latin for 'the Great'.
Albertus Magnus was the teacher and mentor of Thomas Aquinas in Paris and Cologne.
Due to the immense range and volume of his scholarly writings, which covered nearly every scientific field known at the time.
A prominent German philosopher, theologian, and scientist of the High Middle Ages (c. 1200–1280), known as 'Doctor Universalis' for his vast knowledge.
Albertus magnus is usually academic, historical, ecclesiastical in register.
Albertus magnus: in British English it is pronounced /ælˈbɜːtəs ˈmæɡnəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ælˈbɜːrtəs ˈmæɡnəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An Albertus Magnus of [a field]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ALBERT the GREAT had MAGNUS (great, large) knowledge.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS SIZE/BREADTH (Doctor Universalis = Universal Doctor).
Practice
Quiz
What is Albertus Magnus best known for?