Phrontistery

Phrontistery

ˈfrɑn(t)əstri

Noun

  • A place for thinking.
  • An establishment devoted to education or study.

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Example Sentences

“The library’s wood-paneled reading room was the perfect phrontistery for studying.”

“The lookout spot was adopted as a natural phrontistery by introspective hikers.”

“The synagogue offered a phrontistery for grades one through eight, but then students had to transfer to a different high school.”

Word Origin

Greek, early 16th century

Why this word?

“Phrontistery” comes from the ancient Greek φροντιστής (“phrontistḗ”), meaning “a thinker,” and since the Middle Ages, the term has been used as a lofty synonym for a university, college, or other place of formal education. However, a phrontistery can be any place ideal for thinking — including public libraries and museums, as well as parks, forests, or any other place where meditation comes easily. The term has also been humorously applied to another location of frequent quiet reflection: the bathroom.

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