'Holistic' or 'Wholistic'?

[Ashles]

Okay hardly the most crucial question of our time, but is the term 'holistic' or 'wholistic' correct when it comes to healing and that sort of stuff?

I used to think it was 'wholistic' (made sense as deriving from 'whole'), but then I worked at a healing centre that spelt it 'holistic', so I started using that.

Now I have checked out that same centre and they are now spelling it 'wholistic'.

So as you might expect I am in a dilly of a pickle.

An internet search seems to show that both are widely used.

Anyone know the answer?
Anyone care?

 

[Garrette]

I've noticed the same inconsistencies over the years. IIRC, it did begin as "wholistic" exactly for the reason you gave.

It then changed to "holistic", imo, because it is more visually aesthetic and gives the appearance of having some esoteric root.

In other words, a quick coat of paint to help sell the car.

I haven't seen it as with the "w," though, in quite a while.

 

[Darat]

OED has it coming from "holism":

From the Concise CD-ROM:

holism (also wholism)
1 Philos. the theory that certain wholes are to be regarded as greater than the sum of their parts (cf. reductionism 2).
2 Med. the treating of the whole person including mental and social factors rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
holist adj. & n.
holistic adj.
holistically adv.

From the OED:

holism

A term coined by Gen. J C Smuts to designate the tendency in nature to produce wholes (i.e. bodies or organisms) from the ordered grouping of unit structures.

First recorded use 1926.

 

[Ashles]

When I typed 'holistic' into Google it happily gave me results, but when I typed 'wholistic' it asked me if I meant 'holistic'.

So it appears that wholistic used to be correct (and is the logical form of the word), but has since become 'holistic' because
a) It sounds more groovy
b) Is easier to spell
c) It is phonetic and people like spelling things phonetically
d) It saves valuable time. (Why be wasting time writing a 'w' when you could be out windsurfing or watching television?)

Thanks guys.

I'll stick with 'holistic' (although my old centre is now bizzarely using the archaic form - but then they were always weird in there)

 

[Timothy]

Better be careful. Soon they'll be offering homeopathy and theraputic touch, and it'll be the "Woolistic Centre"

- Timothy

 

[drkitten]

So it appears that wholistic used to be correct (and is the logical form of the word), but has since become 'holistic'...

The OED cites the 'holistic' form as being earlier (by about 20 years).

 

[Sharon]

Hi Ashles

but then I worked at a healing centre

sorry to take the thread off track but I've seen you mention this before and I wondered is there a thread here where you shared you experience of what you thought/think of the holistic centre? I would be intrested in your findings.

Sharon

 

[crimresearch]

The OED cites the 'holistic' form as being earlier (by about 20 years).

And just to add a wrinkle, the word 'whole' had the 'wh' added...

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=whole

 

[Ashles]

Hi Ashles

sorry to take the thread off track but I've seen you mention this before and I wondered is there a thread here where you shared you experience of what you thought/think of the holistic centre? I would be intrested in your findings.

Sharon

I have mentioned some experiences before in threads that relate to them.

The whole lot? Would take a book.

But I will try and find some links to those posts.

Probably doing a search for 'holistic' under my user name will yield a host of healing centre related stories.