Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1701-1776, 1836, 1910
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PNEUMATIC, adj., n. Also Pneumatick. Sc. †usage in the Sc. Universities: gen. in pl. form, Pneumatic(k)s, one of the subjects taught in the 17th and 18th cs. as part of the course in Philosophy. Otherwise known as Special, as opposed to General, Metaphysics, it dealt with the doctrine or theory of spirits or spiritual beings (see quots.), but later was restricted to the study of the human mind, and developed into the science of Psychology.
Hence attrib. in comb. Pneumatic Philosphy.Sc. c.1701 J. Coutts Hist. Univ. Gsw. (1909) 180:
Pneumatics or Special Metaphysics.Fif. 1714 W. C. Dickinson Two Students (1952) 57:
My Pupils having learned their Metaphysics with their Regent, are presently to begin their Pneumaticks.Sc. 1745 A. Bower Hist. Univ. Edb. (1817) II. 294:
I do hereby resign my office of Professor of ethic and pneumatic philosophy in the University of Edinburgh.Sc. 1776 A. Smith Wealth of Nations (1869) II. 355:
What are called metaphysics or pneumatics were set in opposition to physics.Sc. 1836 W. Hamilton Metaphysics (1859) I. 134:
The terms Psychology and Pneumatology, or Pneumatic, are not equivalents.Sc. 1910 J. Kerr Sc. Education 215:
With philosphy pneumatics was combined, a subject which dealt with such questions as the nature of angels, the human soul, and the being and perfections of the one true God.
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"Pneumatic adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pneumatic>
