释义 |
gymnosophist|dʒɪmˈnɒsəfɪst| Also 5 pl. genosophis, 6–7 gimnosophist. [ad. L. (pl.) gymnosophist-æ, ad. Gr. γυµνοσοϕισταί, f. γυµνό-ς naked + σοϕιστής sophist. Cf. F. gymnosophiste (15–16th c. in Godefroy Compl.).] One of a sect of ancient Hindu philosophers of ascetic habits (known to the Greeks through the reports of the companions of Alexander), who wore little or no clothing, denied themselves flesh meat, and gave themselves up to mystical contemplation. Also occas. allusively, an ascetic or mystic.
a1400–50Alexander 4022 Ermets..A progenie of pore men þat neuir pride hauntis, And ȝit þe gentill genosophis þam in þe gest callis. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 349 The custome of the Gymnosophistes of India. 1590Greene Neuer too late (1600) 6, I am not a Gimnosophist to iangle at euery sophisticall obiection. 1630J. Taylor (Water P.) Wit & Mirth Wks. ii. 193/1 Shamrooke, a famous Scithian Gimnosophist. a1640Massinger Very Woman iii. v, The Curate..that great Philosopher, He that found out a Pudding had two ends; That learned Clerk, that notable Gymnosophist. 1786Pogonologia 13 The Gymnosophists were particularly attentive to their beards. 1873Symonds Gk. Poets ii. 53 There is no need to suppose that Empedocles visited the East and learned the secrets of Gymnosophists. 1882Stevenson Fam. Stud. 171 Part gymnosophist part backwoodsman. So gymnosophy |dʒɪmˈnɒsəfɪ|, the doctrine or system of gymnosophists.
1826Good Bk. Nat. (1834) I. 6 The Greeks, themselves..seem..to have become acquainted with it as a branch of gymnosophy. |