gymnosophist

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French gymnosophiste, from Latin gymnosophista, from Ancient Greek γυμνοσοφιστής (gumnosophistḗs), from γυμνός (gumnós, “naked”) + σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “sophist”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒɪmˈnɒsəfɪst/

Noun

gymnosophist (plural gymnosophists)

1. One of a school of ancient Indian ascetic philosophers, reported in antiquity, who wore little clothing; a mystic.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
     , vol.I, New York, 2001, p.250:

     As that gymnosophist in Plutarch made answer to Alexander (demanding which spake best), Every one of his fellows did speak better than the other: so may I say of these causes […].

   • 1973, Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise:

     I was speaking today with an unclothed Hindu religious, a parama-hamsa, on the steps of a Portuguese church, a true gymnosophist.

Related terms

• gymnosophy