stoic
pronunciation
How to pronounce stoic in British English:
UK [ˈstəʊɪk]
How to pronounce stoic in American English:
US [ˈstoʊɪk]
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- Noun:
- someone who is seemingly indifferent to emotions
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- Adjective:
- seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
Word Origin
- stoic
- stoic: [16] The Greek philosopher Zeno (c. 334– c. 262 BC), who taught that only virtue is necessarily good, and that pleasure and pain are matters of indifference, is reputed to have lectured to his followers and students in a porch or portico in Athens. The Greek word for ‘porch’ was stoá (a descendant of the Indo-European base *stā-, *sto- ‘stand’, which also produced English stand), and so Zeno’s teachings came to be characterized by the term stōikós. This passed into English via Latin stōicus as stoic, carrying with it metaphorical associations of ‘impassivity’ as well as the literal application of Zeno and his followers.=> stand, statue
- stoic (n.)
- late 14c., "philosopher of the school founded by Zeno," from Latin stoicus, from Greek 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," literally "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 adjective is recorded from 1590s in the "repressing feelings" sense, c. 1600 in the philosophical sense. Compare stoical.
Example
- 1. I admired her stoic patience .
- 2. A stoic achieves happiness by submission to destiny .
- 3. This stoic idea of human equality gained some ground in the political philosophy and jurisprudence of the roman empire .
- 4. Her stoic compliance embarrassed me .
- 5. Mexico is a stoic , deep , and resilient country ...... but this period is the most difficult since the revolution .