See Also: gymnastic(dictionary)

gymnastic (iou)



gymnastic adjective & noun. L16.
[Latin gymnasticus from Greek gumnastikos, from gumnazein: see GYMNASIUM, -IC.]
A. adjective.
Pertaining to or concerned with gymnastics. L16.
fig. Pertaining to mental exercise, discipline, effort, or activity. E18.
Of an initial letter in an illuminated manuscript: decorated with human figures etc. which are represented climbing like gymnasts round the letter. M20.
b. noun.
In pl. (now usu. treated as sing.) or (now rare) sing. The performance of athletic exercises and feats of physical agility, esp. in a place equipped for the purpose. L16.
fig.: R. Broughton It seemed an impossible feat in mental gymnastics to..wrench his thoughts away.
An authority on gymnastics. rare. L16-E17.
A gymnastic feat. rare. M19.
gymnastical adjective = GYMNASTIC adjective L16.
gymnastically adverb in a gymnastic manner; pertaining to gymnastics: M17.