Seriously, what's a polymath?

Here is the definition of polymath as seen in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Polymath (pali-math) n: A person of encyclopedic learning.
syn. renaissance man, homo universalis uomo universale, universal man, jack of all
trades.



I don't like this definition; it's wrong. How many people who have ever existed have had an "encyclopedic knowledge"? More specifically, how many famous polymaths can claim one? Take Leonardo Da Vinci as an example. He is regarded as a master painter, inventor, anatomist, and sculptor, but if you asked him about the famous emperors of the Q'in dynasty, he would be clueless.

I will present to you a more precise definition of my own creation. (My sincerest apologies to the staff member of Merriam-Webster who apparently did not do their research).


Polymath (pali-math) n: A person who has achieved mastery in more than one field of study.


Much better. Encyclopedic implies breadth; mastery implies depth. Now how do I get there? There is no special formula to certify myself as a polymath. Being a polymath is a perpetual process. It is a process similar to being a Buddhist, being a scholar, or being a Jedi. There is, however that basic criteria to fulfill. So, in order to call myself a polymath, I will need to be considered a master in more than one field of study. Which fields of study? More on this later, I need some sleep.