gymnosophist

gymnosophist
gymnosophy, n.
/jim nos"euh fist/, n.
one of a group of Jainist philosophers, existing from ancient times to c1000, characterized by refusal to wear clothes and the abandonment of caste marks; a member of the Digambara sect.
[1400-50; late ME < L gymnosophistae Indian ascetics < Gk gymnosophistaí naked philosophers. See GYMNO-, SOPHIST]

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gymnosophist — Gym*nos o*phist (j[i^]m*n[o^]s [ o]*f[i^]st), n. [Gr. gymnosofisth s; gymno s naked + sofisth s philosopher; cf. F. gymnosophiste.] One of a sect of philosophers, said to have been found in India by Alexander the Great, who went almost naked,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gymnosophist — c.1400, from Gk. gymnosophistai the naked philosophers, from gymnos naked (see NAKED (Cf. naked)) + sophistes sophist (see SOPHIST (Cf. sophist)). Ancient Hindu holy men whose self denial extended to clothes; they were known to the Greeks through …   Etymology dictionary

  • gymnosophist — [jim näs′ə fist] n. [ME genosophis < L gymnosophistae, pl. < Gr gymnosophistai: see GYMNO & SOPHIST] a member of an ancient Hindu sect of ascetics who wore little or no clothing …   English World dictionary

  • Gymnosophist — Als Gymnosophisten (gebildet aus altgriechisch γυμνός gymnós „nackt“ und altgriechisch σοφία sophía = „Weisheit“ griechisch γυμνοσοφισταί, „nackte Weise“) bezeichneten die Griechen indische Asketen, denen Alexander der Große… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • gymnosophist — noun /ʤɪmˈnɒsəfɪst/ One of a school of ancient Indian ascetic philosophers, reported in antiquity, who wore little clothing; a mystic. I was speaking today with an unclothed Hindu religious, a parama hamsa, on the steps of a Portuguese church, a… …   Wiktionary

  • gymnosophist — noun Etymology: Latin gymnosophista, from Greek gymnosophistēs, from gymnos + sophistēs wise man, sophist Date: 15th century any of a sect of ascetics in ancient India who went naked and practiced meditation …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Gymnosophist — Gym|no|so|phịst, der; en, en [griech. gymnosophiste̅s]: indischer Asket in der griechischen Literatur u. in der Historiographie …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Gymnosophist — Gym|no|so|phist der; en, en <aus gr. gymnosophiste̅s, eigtl. »nackter Weiser«> griech. Bez. für einen indischen ↑Asketen (↑Jogi) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • gymnosophist — [dʒɪm nɒsəfɪst] noun a member of an ancient Hindu sect who wore very little clothing and were given to asceticism and contemplation. Derivatives gymnosophy noun Origin ME: from Fr. gymnosophiste, via L. from Gk gumnosophistai (plural), from… …   English new terms dictionary

  • gymnosophist — gym·nos·o·phist …   English syllables

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”