15 November 2011

Etymological derivation of the word “gymnasium”—in all likelihood I am going to the “gymnasium” tomorrow


A gymnasium, or gym for short, is a place to exercise. In Ancient Greece, a gymnasium was a training ground for men to exercise physically as well as to socialize and exercise their minds by engaging in philosophical discussion. When men would exercise in Ancient Greece, they would do so naked to honor the Gods for creating man's body. The Greek adjective for "naked" is "gymnos". The Greek verb gymnazien means "to exercise". When Latin and English developed, they took the Greek roots and came up with "gymnasion", which eventually became the modern English "gymnasium".

2 comments:

  1. If you're suggesting we eschew tradition and play "skins" vs. "skins" tomorrow, I wouldn't resist.

    Also, you should watch or revisit EDTV (1999), when someone (I think Woody Harrelson's father) says "A gymnasium?" with a super-funny inflection. Or was that from MULTIPLICITY (1996), starring Michael Keaton?

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  2. I WOULD LUVVVVV 2 PLAY SKIN VS SKIN. ONE ON ONE.

    Both of those movies are kill also. Did Multiplicity really come out in '96? I remember that like it was 2009.

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