palaestra

[ puh-les-truh ]

noun

, plural pa·laes·tras, pa·laes·trae [p, uh, -, les, -tree].

1. Greek Antiquity. palestra.

palaestra

/ -ˈliː-; pəˈlɛstrə /

noun

1. (in ancient Greece or Rome) a public place devoted to the training of athletes

Word History and Origins

Origin of palaestra¹

C16: via Latin from Greek palaistra, from palaiein to wrestle

Example Sentences

The priests deserted the Temple for the palaestra and the young nobles wore the Greek cap.

From Project Gutenberg

The building, he replied, is a newly erected Palaestra; and the entertainment is generally conversation, to which you are welcome.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the place of meeting, which is also a palaestra, is quite forgotten, and the boys play a subordinate part.

From Project Gutenberg

Inside a palaestra, the peristyle ought to be laid out as described above.

From Project Gutenberg

The weakling never appeared in the Palaestra, which even the great Mark Antony did not disdain to visit.

From Project Gutenberg