polymath

noun

Etymology: Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πολυμαθής (polumathḗs, “having learnt much”), first attested in 1624. From πολύς (polús, “much”) (for more, see poly-) + μανθάνω (manthánō, “to learn”). Compare opsimath, philomath, polyhistor, polymathic, polymathist, and polymathy.

1. A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.

   “To be thought and held Polumathes and Polihistors.”

   “A bit of a polymath, he was crucial in the early development of the railways in this country.”