Stoic Hear it!

Stoic Definition

Stoic (stō′ik)

noun

  1. a member of a Greek school of philosophy founded by Zeno about 308 , holding that all things, properties, relations, etc. are governed by unvarying natural laws, and that the wise man should follow virtue alone, obtained through reason, remaining indifferent to the external world and to passion or emotion
  2. a stoical person

Etymology: ME Stoycis (pl.) < L stoicus < Gr stōikos < stoa, porch, colonnade (see stoa): because Zeno taught under a colonnade at Athens

adjective

  1. of the Stoics or their philosophy
  2. stoical
stoic Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • remain: By the following day, public emotion is mounting but the Royal Family, esconced in Balmoral, remain stoic.

Modifies a noun

  • acceptance: Some express defiance, others stoic acceptance of their fate.
  • philosopher: Gallio was the brother of Seneca, a Greek stoic philosopher who later became an adviser to the emperor Nero.
  • attitude: It is a true testament to the stoic attitude of the crew.
  • nature: What he has underestimated is the stoic nature of the British people.
  • silence: But stoic silence wouldn't do for Damon Gough.
  • determination: Gaynor's speech was interrupted for twenty minutes by rain but she continued afterward with stoic determination.
stoic Quotes

   Every Stoic was a Stoic; but in Christendom where is the Christian?

—Emerson, RalphWaldo

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man. Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise, and rudely great: With too much knowledge for the sceptic side, With too much weakness for the stoic's pride, He hangs between; in doubt to act or rest, In doubt to deem himself a god, or beast; In doubt his mind or body to prefer, Born but to die, and reas'ning but to err; Alike in ignorance, his reason such, Whether he thinks too little, or too much.

—Pope, Alexander

Every known class of refusal was successfully exhibited. Onehorse endeavoured to climbtherailsintothe Grand Stand; another, having stoppeddeadatthecritical point, swung round, and returned in consternation to the starting-point, with hisrider hanging likea locket around his neck. Another, dowered with a sense of humour

—Martin Ross

Browse dictionary entries near Stoic

  1. ‹ stogy
  2. ‹ stogies
  3. ‹ stogie
  4. ‹ stodgy
  5. ‹ stodging
  6. ‹ stodginess
  7. ‹ stodgily
  8. ‹ stodgiest
  9. ‹ stodgier
  10. ‹ stodged
  1. stoical ›
  2. stoically ›
  3. stoicheiometry ›
  4. stoichiometric ›
  5. stoichiometry ›
  6. Stoicism ›
  7. stoke ›
  8. Stoke Newington ›
  9. Stoke-on-Trent ›
  10. stoked ›