chrestomathy
[kres-tom-uh-thee]
- a collection of selected literary passages, often by one author and especially from a foreign language.
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Origin of chrestomathy
1825–35; < New Latin chrestomathia < Greek chrēstomátheia, equivalent to chrēstó(s) useful (chrēs-, stem of chrêsthai to use + -tos verbal adjective suffix) + math- (variant stem of manthánein to learn) + -eia -y3
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chrestomathy
Historical Examples
The second is 'Bontsie Silent,' which is given in our Chrestomathy.
Chrestomathy, kres-tom′a-thi, n. a book of selections from foreign languages, usually for beginners.
The Persian text of these fables appeared in 1805 in the chrestomathy appended to Fr.
The Influence of India and Persia on the Poetry of GermanyArthur F. J. Remy
Nothing is known of an Ἀνθηρῶν συναγωγή, a sort of anthology or chrestomathy attributed to him by Suidas.
chrestomathy
- rare a collection of literary passages, used in the study of language
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Word Origin
C19: from Greek khrēstomatheia, from khrēstos useful + mathein to learn
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for chrestomathy
n.
"collection of literary passages," 1774, from French chrestomathie, from Latinized form of Greek khrestomatheia "desire of learning; book containing selected passages," lit. "useful learning," from khrestos "useful" (verbal adjective of khresthai "to make use of;" see hortatory) + manthanein "to learn" (see mathematic). Related: Chrestomathic.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper