n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + &unr_; trainer of athletes, gymnast. ] A mechanical contrivance for exercising the fingers of a pianist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Clergymen An ordained minister; a man regularly authorized to preach the gospel, and administer its ordinances; in England usually restricted to a minister of the Established Church. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A genus of North American terrestrial orchids usually included in the genus Habenaria.
Syn. -- genus Gymnadeniopsis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. & n. Same as Gimmal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. gymnasiarchus, Gr. gymnasi`archos; gymna`sion + 'a`rchein to govern: cf. F. gymnasiarque. ] (Gr. Antiq.) An Athenian officer who superintended the gymnasia, and provided the oil and other necessaries at his own expense. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n.; pl. E. Gymnasiums L. Gymnasia [ L., fr. Gr. gymna`sion, fr. gymna`zein to exercise (naked), fr. gymo`s naked. ] 1. A place or building where athletic exercises are performed; a school for gymnastics. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A school for the higher branches of literature and science; a preparatory school for the university; -- used esp. of German schools of this kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

More like ordinary schools of gymnasia than universities. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymnasth`s a trainer of athletes: cf. F. gymnaste. See Gymnasium. ] One who teaches or practices gymnastic exercises; the manager of a gymnasium; an athlete.

n. A gymnast. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. gymnasticus, Gr. gymnastiko`s: cf. F. gymnastique. See Gymnasium. ] 1. Pertaining to athletic exercises intended for health, defense, or diversion; -- originally said of games or exercises, as running, leaping, wrestling, throwing the discus, the javelin, etc.; in modern times more specifically applied to athletic exercises demonstrating balance and agility, such as tumbling, somersaulting, and bodily maneuvers performed on special equipment such as parallel bars or a balance beam; as, gymnastic exercises, contests, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pertaining to disciplinary exercises for the intellect. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a gymnastic manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Athletic or disciplinary exercises; the art of performing gymnastic exercises. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disciplinary exercises for the intellect or character. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ fig. ] Feats demonstrating a quick mental agility; as, mental gymnastics, verbal gymnastics. [ PJC ]

n. Athletic exercise. [ Obs. ] Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ a. [ L. gymnicus, Gr. gymniko`s: cf. F. gymnique. See Gymmasium. ] Athletic; gymnastic. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Have they not swordplayers, and every sort
Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymno`s naked. So called as coming from the Bare Hills, Maryland. ] (Min.) A hydrous silicate of magnesia. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + blasta`nein to sprout. ] (Zool.) The Athecata; -- so called because the medusoid buds are not inclosed in a capsule. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Gymnoblastea. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. gymno`s naked + karpo`s fruit. ] (Bot.) Naked-fruited, the fruit either smooth or not adherent to the perianth. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + chro`a skin, body. ] (Zool.) A division of Hydroidea including the hydra. See Hydra. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + kla`dos a branch. ] (Bot.) A genus of leguminous plants; the Kentucky coffee tree. The leaves are cathartic, and the seeds a substitute for coffee. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + kw`ph an oar. ] (Zool.) A group of transparent, free-swimming Annelida, having setæ only in the cephalic appendages. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymno`s naked + ky`tos a hollow vessel. ] (Biol.) A cytode without a proper cell wall, but with a nucleus. Haeckel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymno`s naked + E. cytode. ] (Biol.) A cytode without either a cell wall or a nucleus. Haeckel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymno`s naked + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth. ] (Zoöl.) One of a group of plectognath fishes (Gymnodontes), having the teeth and jaws consolidated into one or two bony plates, on each jaw, as the diodonts and tetradonts. See Bur fish, Globefish, Diodon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymno`s naked + -gen. ] (Bot.) One of a class of plants, so called by Lindley, because the ovules are fertilized by direct contact of the pollen. Same as Gymnosperm. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + glw^ssa tongue. ] (Zool.) A division of gastropods in which the odontophore is without teeth.

{ ‖‖ } prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + laimo`s the throat. ] (Zool.) An order of Bryozoa, having no epistome. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + nw^tos the back. ] (Zool.) The order of fishes which includes the Gymnotus or electrical eel. The dorsal fin is wanting. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. gymno`s naked + pai^s, paido`s, a child. ] (Zool.) Having young that are naked when hatched; psilopædic; -- said of certain birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + 'ofio`neos serpentlike. ] (Zool.) An order of Amphibia, having a long, annulated, snakelike body. See Ophiomorpha. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + 'ofqalmo`s the eye. ] (Zool.) A group of acalephs, including the naked-eyed medusæ; the hydromedusæ. Most of them are known to be the free-swimming progeny (gonophores) of hydroids. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymno`s naked + pla`ssein to shape, mold. ] (Biol.) A cell or mass of protoplasm devoid of an envelope, as a white blood corpuscle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. gymno`s naked + "ri`s, "rino`s, the nose. ] (Zool.) Having unfeathered nostrils, as certain birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + sw^ma, sw`matos, the body. ] (Zool.) One of the orders of Pteropoda. They have no shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gymnosofisth`s; gymno`s naked + sofisth`s philosopher; cf. F. gymnosophiste. ] One of a sect of philosophers, said to have been found in India by Alexander the Great, who went almost naked, denied themselves the use of flesh, renounced bodily pleasures, and employed themselves in the contemplation of nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The doctrines of the Gymnosophists. Good. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A plant that bears naked seeds (i. e., seeds not inclosed in an ovary), as the common pine and hemlock. Cf. Angiosperm. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. gymno`spermos; gymno`s naked + spe`rma seed: cf. F. gymnosperme. ] (Bot.) (a) Having naked seeds, or seeds not inclosed in a capsule or other vessel. (b) Belonging to the class of plants consisting of gymnosperms. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + to`kos a bringing forth. ] (Zool.) The Athecata. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + nw^tos the back: cf. F. gymnote. ] (Zool.) A genus of South American fresh-water fishes, including the Gymnotus electricus, or electric eel. It has a greenish, eel-like body, and is possessed of electric power. [ 1913 Webster ]

One fearful shock, fearful but momentary, like that from the electric blow of the gymnotus. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]