pancratium

American  

[pan-krey-shee-uhm] / pænˈkreɪ ʃi əm /

noun

plural

pancratia

1. (in ancient Greece) an athletic contest combining wrestling and boxing.

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pancratium British  

/ pænˈkreɪʃɪəm, pænˈkrætɪk /

noun

1. (in ancient Greece) a wrestling and boxing contest

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Other Word Forms

• pancratic adjective

Etymology

Origin of pancratium

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek pankrátion all-power exercise (noun use of neuter adj.), equivalent to pan- pan- + krát ( os ) strength, mastery + -ion, neuter of -ios adj. suffix

Example Sentences

The Lacedaemonians forbid their young men to contend in the pancratium, or with the caestus, in which games the defeated party has to acknowledge himself beaten.

From L. Annaeus Seneca on Benefits by Stewart, Aubrey

Reference is here made by Corvinus to the pancratium, an athletic exercise among the Romans, which combined all personal contests, such as boxing, wrestling, etc.

From De La Salle Fifth Reader by Christian Brothers

The combats which had the greatest share in the solemnity of the public games, were boxing, wrestling, the pancratium, the discus or quoit, and racing.

From The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Macedonians and Grecians (Vol. 1 of 6) by Rollin, Charles

Of the exercises here, that in the clay is called wrestling; the youths in the dust are also called wrestlers, and those who strike each other standing are engaged in what we call the pancratium.

From Works of Lucian of Samosata — Volume 03 by Fowler, F. G. (Francis George)

How far he surpassed his adversaries is shown by his wishing to contend in both wrestling and pancratium at Olympia, and by his winning victories in both at the Capitolina.

From Dio's Rome, Volume 6 An Historical Narrative Originally Composed in Greek During The Reigns of Septimius Severus, Geta and Caracalla, Macrinus, Elagabalus And Alexander Severus by Foster, Herbert Baldwin