unscience

English

Etymology

From Middle English unscience (“false knowledge or understanding”), equivalent to un- +‎ science.

Noun

unscience (countable and uncountable, plural unsciences)

1. That which is unscientific or pseudoscientific.
   • 1900, John Vosburgh Stevens, editor, The Annual of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery:

     It has been used in medicine from time immemorial; but until recently its use was nothing more than a species of mere unscience, shadowed in mystery.

   • 1973, Janet Lembke, Bronze and Iron:

     Misapplication of this practical connection leads to such unsciences as astrology and alchemy and, with the Romans, augury.

See also

• pseudoscience

Middle English

Etymology

un- +‎ science

Noun

unscience

1. unscience (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)
   • 1380, Geoffrey Chaucer, Boethius and Troilus:

     And at the laste, yif that any wight wene a thing to ben other weyes thanne it is, it is nat only unscience, but it is deceivable opinioun ful diverse and fer fro the sothe of science.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

• English: unscience