Early 19th century; earliest use found in Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832), philosopher, jurist, and reformer. Probably from ancient Greek μαθητικ?? disposed to learn, easily taught from μαθητ?? disciple (from the stem of μανθ?νειν to learn + -ητ??, agent suffix) + -ικ??, or perhaps independently from math- + -etic, by analogy with synthesis, synthetic, etc.