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gymnosophist. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from French gymnosophiste, from Latin gymnosophista, from Ancient Greek γυμνοσοφιστής (gumnosophistḗs), from γυμνός (gumnós, “naked”) + σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “sophist”).
Pronunciation
Noun
gymnosophist (plural gymnosophists)
- One of a school of ancient Indian ascetic philosophers, reported in antiquity, who wore little clothing; a mystic.
- , 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.