From the book
Lysis
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordPhilogymnastēs means lover of exercise or athletic training.
- In LysisThe plural φιλογυμνασταί is the penultimate item before φιλόσοφοι in the list at 212d.
- Reading contextThe word also suits the dialogue’s wrestling-school setting, but its immediate work is to test the proposed requirement of reciprocal affection.
- A place to readThe Greek example means “Lovers of exercise and lovers of wisdom.”
- English renderings
- Lover of exercise or athletic training
Meaning
Lover of exercise or athletic training.
Grammatical category: masculine noun.
Use in the book
The plural φιλογυμνασταί is the penultimate item before φιλόσοφοι in the list at 212d. It extends the examples from animals and drink to an activity.
That placement helps the transition to loving wisdom: an attachment to an activity can be named with a φίλ- compound without treating the activity as an affectionate respondent. The word also suits the dialogue’s wrestling-school setting, but its immediate work is to test the proposed requirement of reciprocal affection.
Places to read
- 212dφιλογυμνασταὶ καὶ φιλόσοφοι — Lovers of exercise and lovers of wisdom.