What does Faustian mean?

Definitions for Faustian
ˈfaʊ sti ənfaus·tian

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Faustian.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Faustianadjective

    pertaining to or resembling or befitting Faust or Faustus especially in insatiably striving for worldly knowledge and power even at the price of spiritual values

    "a Faustian pact with the Devil"

Wiktionary

  1. Faustianadjective

    suggestive of Faust, especially his abandonment of values in order to pursue knowledge

    He was a truly Faustian archaeologist, not above sleeping with other researchers to find out what leads they were following.

  2. Etymology: Eponymous to Johann Faust, German magician and alchemist.

Wikipedia

  1. faustian

    Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (c. 1480–1540). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. The Faust legend has been the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical works that have reinterpreted it through the ages. "Faust" and the adjective "Faustian" imply sacrificing spiritual values for power, knowledge, or material gain.The Faust of early books—as well as the ballads, dramas, movies, and puppet-plays which grew out of them—is irrevocably damned because he prefers human knowledge over divine knowledge: "he laid the Holy Scriptures behind the door and under the bench, refused to be called doctor of theology, but preferred to be styled doctor of medicine". Plays and comic puppet theatre loosely based on this legend were popular throughout Germany in the 16th century, often reducing Faust and Mephistopheles to figures of vulgar fun. The story was popularised in England by Christopher Marlowe, who gave it a classic treatment in his play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (c. 1592). In Goethe's reworking of the story over two hundred years later, Faust becomes a dissatisfied intellectual who yearns for "more than earthly meat and drink" in his life.

ChatGPT

  1. faustian

    Faustian refers to a situation or act where someone is willing to sacrifice their morals, spiritual values, or their soul in exchange for knowledge, power, success or other worldly benefits. The term is derived from the legend of Faust, who traded his soul to the devil for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. A Faustian pact or bargain often leads to negative consequences or downfall.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Faustian in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Faustian in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of Faustian in a Sentence

  1. David Axelrod:

    That's a big if. Because the center of gravity in the party has been so far to the right that the notion of getting through that process without having to compromise and make Faustian bargains, I think, is very remote.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Faustian#100000#151898#333333

Translations for Faustian

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"Faustian." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Faustian>.

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