Stoic

[Mirah]

Sto·ic

   /ˈstoʊ

ɪk/ Show Spelled[stoh-ik] Show IPA
–adjective 1. of or pertaining to the school of philosophy founded by Zeno, who taught that people should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity.

2. (lowercase

) stoical.


–noun 3. a member or adherent of the Stoic school of philosophy.

4. (lowercase

) a person who maintains or affects the mental attitude advocated by the Stoics.




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Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L Stōicus < Gk Stōikós, equiv. to stō- (var. s. of stoá stoa) + -ikos -ic

—Related forms non-Stoic, adjective, noun
un·sto·ic, adjective





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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Word Origin & History

stoic
late 14c., "philosopher of the school founded by Zeno," from L. stoicus, from Gk. stoikos "pertaining to a member of or the teachings of the school founded by Zeno (c.334-c.262 B.C.E.), characterized by austere ethical doctrines," lit. "pertaining to a portico," from stoa "porch," specifically Stoa Poikile "the Painted Porch," the great hall in Athens (decorated with frescoes depicting the Battle of Marathon) where Zeno taught (see stoa). Meaning "person who represses feelings or endures patiently" first recorded 1570s. The adj. is recorded from 1590s in the "repressing feelings" sense, c.1600 in the philosophical sense; earlier stoical (early 15c. of philosophers, 1570s as "indifferent to pleasure or pain").





Main Entry: Stoic[SIZE=-1]2[/SIZE]Part of Speech: nDefinition: a member of the school of philosophy founded by Zeno; belief that a wise man is free from passion and indifferent to grief or joyEtymology: Greek stoikos 'portico where Zeno taught'


Main Entry: stoicPart of Speech: adjDefinition: unaffected, indifferent; restrainedEtymology: Greek stoikos 'portico where Zeno taught'

n.

1. One who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain.
2. Stoic A member of an originally Greek school of philosophy, founded by Zeno about 308 [SIZE=-1]B.C.,[/SIZE] believing that God determined everything for the best and that virtue is sufficient for happiness. Its later Roman form advocated the calm acceptance of all occurrences as the unavoidable result of divine will or of the natural order.

adj. also sto·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)

1. Seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive: "stoic resignation in the face of hunger" (John F. Kennedy).
2. Stoic Of or relating to the Stoics or their philosophy.

[Middle English Stoic, a Stoic, from Latin Stōicus, from Greek Stōikos, from stoā (poikilē), (Painted) Porch, where Zeno taught; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
sto'i·cal·ly adv., sto'i·cal·ness n.