gymnosophist

American  

[jim-nos-uh-fist] / dʒɪmˈnɒs ə fɪst /

noun

1. one of a group of Jainist philosophers, existing from ancient times to c1000, characterized by refusal to wear clothes and the abandonment of caste marks; a member of the Digambara sect.

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gymnosophist British  

/ dʒɪmˈnɒsəfɪst /

noun

1. one of a sect of naked Indian ascetics who regarded food or clothing as detrimental to purity of thought

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Other Word Forms

• gymnosophy
  noun

Etymology

Origin of gymnosophist

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin gymnosophistae Indian ascetics < Greek gymnosophistaí naked philosophers. See gymno-, sophist

Example Sentences

Fearing an accusation of adultery, the mother gives the babe to the care of Sisimithras, a gymnosophist, who carries her to Egypt and places her in charge of Charicles, a Pythian priest.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

"Not so, O king," replied the gymnosophist, "unless you said falsely that he should die first who made the worst answer."

From Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans by Clough, Arthur Hugh

As Walter lay awake for a few quiet moments before he sent his thoughts to rest, he glanced critically, like an Indian gymnosophist, over the occurrences of the day.

From St. Winifred's, or The World of School by Earnshaw, H. C. (Harold C.)

From his use of the word gymnosophist it is probable that Megasthenes confounded the Brahmans with the hermits or fakirs; and this explains his statement that any Hindu might become a Brahman.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various

So much of truth is got from being a gymnosophist and regarding your own toes with aloof abstraction on a sunny Christmas morning.

From The Sea and the Jungle by Tomlinson, H. M. (Henry Major)