gymnosophist
English
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] French gymnosophiste, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin gymnosophistae, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek γυμνοσοφισταί (gumnosophistaí), from γυμνός (gumnós, “naked”) + σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “sophist”).
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /d͡ʒɪmˈnɒsəfɪst/
Noun
gymnosophist (plural gymnosophists)
- One of a school of ancient Indian ascetic philosophers, reported in antiquity, who wore little clothing; a mystic.
- Template:RQ:RBrtn AntmyMlncly, 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.
- Template:RQ:RBrtn AntmyMlncly, vol.I, New York, 2001, p.250: