of opposite sex, unmixed with carnal desires, and regarding the mind only and its excellences; — a species
of love for which Plato was a warm advocate. — Platonic year (Astron.), a period of time determined
by the revolution of the equinoxes, or the space of time in which the stars and constellations return to
their former places in respect to the equinoxes; — called also great year. This revolution, which is caused
by the precession of the equinoxes, is accomplished in about 26,000 years. Barlow.
Platonic
(Pla*ton"ic), n. A follower of Plato; a Platonist.
Platonically
(Pla*ton"ic*al*ly), adv. In a Platonic manner.
Platonism
(Pla"to*nism) n. [Cf. F. Platonisme.]
1. The doctrines or philosophy by Plato or of his followers.
Plato believed God to be an infinitely wise, just, and powerful Spirit; and also that he formed the visible
universe out of preëxistent amorphous matter, according to perfect patterns of ideas eternally existent in
his own mind. Philosophy he considered as being a knowledge of the true nature of things, as discoverable
in those eternal ideas after which all things were fashioned. In other words, it is the knowledge of what
is eternal, exists necessarily, and is unchangeable; not of the temporary, the dependent, and changeable; and
of course it is not obtained through the senses; neither is it the product of the understanding, which concerns
itself only with the variable and transitory; nor is it the result of experience and observation; but it is the
product of our reason, which, as partaking of the divine nature, has innate ideas resembling the eternal
ideas of God. By contemplating these innate ideas, reasoning about them, and comparing them with
their copies in the visible universe, reason can attain that true knowledge of things which is called philosophy.
Plato's professed followers, the Academics, and the New Platonists, differed considerably from him, yet
are called Platonists. Murdock.
2. An elevated rational and ethical conception of the laws and forces of the universe; sometimes, imaginative
or fantastic philosophical notions.
Platonist
(Pla"to*nist) n. One who adheres to the philosophy of Plato; a follower of Plato. Hammond.
Platonize
(Pla"to*nize) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Platonized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Platonizing.] To adopt the
opinion of Plato or his followers. Milner.
Platonize
(Pla"to*nize), v. t. To explain by, or accomodate to, the Platonic philosophy. Enfield.
Platonizer
(Pla"to*ni`zer) n. One who Platonizes.
Platoon
(Pla*toon") n. [F. peloton a ball of thread, a knot or group of men, a platoon, from pelote a
ball formed of things wound round. See Pellet.] (Mil.) (a) Formerly, a body of men who fired together; also,
a small square body of soldiers to strengthen the angles of a hollow square. (b) Now, in the United
States service, half of a company.
Platt
(Platt) n. (Mining) See Lodge, n. Raymond.
Plattdeutsch
(Platt"deutsch`) n. The modern dialects spoken in the north of Germany, taken collectively; modern
Low German. See Low German, under German.
Platten
(Plat"ten) v. t. [See Plat, a.] (Glass Making) To flatten and make into sheets or plates; as, to
platten cylinder glass.
Platter
(Plat"ter) n. [From Plat to braid.] One who plats or braids.
