Thales
/ˈθeɪ.liːz/noun
An ancient Greek philosopher of Miletus, traditionally counted as one of the Seven Sages.
Did you know?Thales became legendary in later tradition for predicting an eclipse, which helped turn him into a symbol of human reason confronting the heavens.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Θαλῆς (Thalēs)
“A personal name borne by the Milesian philosopher”
Classical Antiquity
Greek
Θαλῆς ὁ Μιλήσιος
“Thales of Miletus, a famed early natural philosopher and sage”
Latin
Latin
Thales
“The Greek philosopher Thales, preserved in Roman scholarly writing”
Middle English
English
Thales
“The historical Greek thinker, known through learned and literary tradition”
Modern English
English
Thales
“The name of the ancient Greek philosopher of Miletus”