Where does “gymnasium” come from?
Gymnasium comes from Latin gymnasium, from Ancient Greek γυμνάσιον, derived from the adjective γυμνός meaning naked, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European negʷ- meaning to be naked.
gymnasium (English): A large room or building for indoor sports; A...
Definitions
- A large room or building for indoor sports; A...
Ancestry of “gymnasium”, step by step
gymnasium traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Latin Gymnasium
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | Gymnasium | character in the play Cistellaria of Plautus |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | γυμνάσιον | bodily exercises; gymnastic school, school |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | γυμνάζω | to train naked; to train |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | γυμνός | naked, nude, unclad; unarmed, without armor,... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | *gʷomnós | naked, nude |
via English gym
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | gym | Clipping of gymnasium; clipping of gymnastics; A... |