γυμνάσιον Ancient Greek · revision 3157

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=6th–5th century BC, Pindar|origins=grc γυμνός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /ɡym.ná.si.on/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ʝymˈna.si.on/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ʝymˈna.si.on/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''γῠμνᾰ́σιον''' (gumnásion) ''n'' (genitive γῠμνᾰσίου); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from the stem of [[γυμνάζω|tr=gumnázō|t=to train, exercise]] with the suffix [[m|grc|-ιον|tr=-ion]].^(Wiktionary)^(CGL 2021) The verb comes from [[γυμνός|tr=gumnós|t=naked]], since athletes trained naked.^(Wiktionary)^(LSJ 1940) Etymonline traces γυμνός to a metathesis of [[ine-pro|*nogʷ-mo-]], from [[m|ine-pro|*nogʷ-|t=naked]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Pindar, in a fragment, uses the plural for bodily exercises, as do Herodotus and the Hippocratic writings.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From exercises it came to mean the place where they were practised, the gymnasium, a ground with its buildings: Euripides, Antiphon and Plato use it so, and an Athenian inscription of the 4th century BC records the building of the gymnasium at the Lyceum.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)^(LSJ 1940) Since philosophers taught in the gymnasia of the Academy and the Lyceum, it also meant a school, and figuratively a group of like-minded people: in Aristophanes' ''Wasps'' a character speaks of “our school”.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+

+ In Hellenistic Egypt “those from the gymnasium” were the Hellenized citizens of the towns, educated as ephebes.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE) The Books of Maccabees use it for a gymnasium as a centre of athletics and Greek culture.^(Lust 2003) Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|gymnasium]], and English took ''gymnasium'' from Latin in the 1590s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Modern Greek has [[m|el|γυμνάσιο|tr=gymnásio]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses the plural for bodily exercises.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for athletic training, and Euripides for the gymnasium.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 4th century BC – An Athenian inscription records a gymnasium at the Lyceum.^(DGE)

+ * 2nd–1st century BC – The Books of Maccabees mention a gymnasium as a centre of Greek culture.^(Lust 2003)

+ * 1st century AD – Papyri name the Hellenized class of Egypt “those from the gymnasium”.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 1590s – English borrows ''gymnasium'' from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(plural)'' Bodily exercises, [[m|en|athletics]].^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Training of the mind; an exercise.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A [[m|en|gymnasium]], a ground for physical training.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A school, especially of philosophy; a group sharing an outlook.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(collective)'' The youths who attend the gymnasium.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[γυμνάζω|tr=gumnázō]]

+ * [[γυμνός|tr=gumnós]]

+ * [[la|gymnasium]]

+ * [[en|gymnasium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}