palaestra
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /pəˈliːstɹə/, /pəˈlʌɪstɹə/
Noun

palaestra (plural palaestras)

  1. (historical) A public area in ancient Greece and Rome dedicated to the teaching and practice of wrestling and other sports; a wrestling school, a gymnasium. [from 15th c.]
    • 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:
      Athenian culture flourished in externalities, the open air of the agora and the nudity of the palestra.
  2. An arena for literal or figurative combat; a battlefield. [from 15th c.]
Translations


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