thomas aquinas: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Theological
Quick answer
What does “thomas aquinas” mean?
The historical figure, St. Thomas Aquinas (c.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The historical figure, St. Thomas Aquinas (c.1225–1274), an Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, theologian, and Doctor of the Church, whose synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology (Thomism) is highly influential.
The body of work, thought, or intellectual tradition associated with Thomas Aquinas; used metonymically to refer to Scholastic philosophy or Catholic theology. E.g., 'He studies Aquinas.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronunciation differs (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical connotations of academic rigour, Catholic theology, and medieval philosophy.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse, equally common in relevant academic/theological fields.
Grammar
How to Use “thomas aquinas” in a Sentence
Aquinas + VERB (e.g., Aquinas writes, argues, states)PREP + Aquinas (e.g., in Aquinas, by Aquinas, from Aquinas)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thomas aquinas” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It is unidiomatic to verb this proper noun.
American English
- It is unidiomatic to verb this proper noun.
adverb
British English
- Aquinas-ly (non-standard, humorous)
- Thomistically
American English
- Aquinas-ly (non-standard, humorous)
- Thomistically
adjective
British English
- Aquinian (rare) thought
- Thomistic doctrine
- an Aquinas scholar
American English
- Aquinian (rare) philosophy
- Thomistic principles
- an Aquinas expert
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Central term in philosophy, theology, medieval studies, and history of ideas. E.g., 'The seminar focused on Aquinas's Five Ways.'
Everyday
Very rare, except in religious contexts or educated references. E.g., 'I remember the name Thomas Aquinas from my history class.'
Technical
Key term in Thomistic metaphysics, natural law theory, and systematic theology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thomas aquinas”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thomas aquinas”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thomas aquinas”
- Incorrect plural: *'Thomas Aquinases' (correct: 'the works of Aquinas').
- Incorrect article: *'A Thomas Aquinas argued...' (correct: 'Thomas Aquinas argued...').
- Mispronunciation: /æˈkwiːnəs/ instead of /əˈkwaɪnəs/.
- Spelling: *'Aquinis', *'Aquinus'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an honorific title within the Catholic Church, referring to the purity and depth of his theological teaching.
It is the most famous and influential work of Aquinas, an unfinished compendium intended as an instructional guide for theology students.
In British English: /əˈkwaɪnəs/ (uh-KWY-nuhs). In American English: /əˈkwaɪnəs/ (uh-KWY-nuhs). The stress is on the second syllable.
Yes, 'Thomism' is the school of philosophy and theology that follows, develops, and interprets the work of Thomas Aquinas.
The historical figure, St. Thomas Aquinas (c.
Thomas aquinas is usually formal, academic, theological in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As sure as Aquinas is Catholic (humorous, non-standard)”
- “An Aquinas of our time (figurative, rare)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Thomas A-quote-a-lot' because he wrote extensively on theology and philosophy.
Conceptual Metaphor
THOMAS AQUINAS IS A FOUNDATION (e.g., 'the bedrock of Catholic thought'), AQUINAS'S WORK IS A SYNTHESIS (e.g., 'blending faith and reason').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is Thomas Aquinas NOT considered a major historical figure?