# Thirst for knowledge **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059 "2013-08-12T18:24:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Longshanks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Longshanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Longshanks)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/1 "2013-08-12T18:24:44Z")
Is there a technical term for a person who wants to know and understand everything there is. Would it be something related to the character of Faust, so like Faustian or something. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/2 "2013-08-12T18:31:52Z")
Polymath: a person of great or varied learning. Philomath: one who has a devotion to learning. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/3 "2013-08-12T18:42:04Z")
I forgot Pantomath: one who knows everything. Bibliovore: one who “eats books”; a reader of everything. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/4 "2013-08-12T18:58:04Z")
is a verbivore one who loves words or keeps saying incorrect things? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/5 "2013-08-12T19:07:17Z")
[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/verbivore](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/verbivore) Verbivore: one who enjoys words and wordplay. Malaprop: one who mistakes one word (or phrase) for another. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/6 "2013-08-12T19:09:16Z")
**Leo Bloom**? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/7 "2013-08-12T19:19:07Z")
If you’re asking if I am Leo Bloom, then I’m flattered, but no. If you’re asking if Leo’s a verbivore or malaprop, then I’ll let someone else answer. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/8 "2013-08-12T19:25:28Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > If you’re asking if I am Leo Bloom, then I’m flattered, but no. > If you’re asking if Leo’s a verbivore or malaprop, then I’ll let someone else answer. It’s compliment to Mr Bloom, he’s certainly one with a thirst for knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/9 "2013-08-12T20:43:01Z")
It should be simply philosopher. Philosophy: Love of knowledge, pursuit of wisdom. Obviously, though, that has a more specialized meaning now. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirst-for-knowledge/666059/10 "2013-08-13T01:38:11Z")
Sapiophile?