† Elˈpistic,a.Obs.rare—1. [ad.Gr. ἐλπιστικός, f. ἐλπίζειν to hope.] The distinctive epithet of a sect of Greek philosophers (seequot.). 1586T. B. La Primaud. Fr.Acad. i. (1589) 286 The Elpisticke Philosophers affirmed, that nothing better maintained and preserved the life of man, than Hope.