sophrosyne means 134 Sophrosyne, a main belt asteroid. It carries an Arena rating of 1781, earned across 14 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, sophrosyne ranks #831 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #863 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words, #1,298 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #2,279 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words.
sophrosyne is pronounced /səˈfɹɒzɪniː/.
Why “sophrosyne” is a great word
The ideal of a sound, prudent, and temperate mind, embodying a balanced excellence of character and wise self-governance. From the Ancient Greek σωφροσύνη (sōphrosúnē, "prudence, temperance, soundness of mind"), from σώφρων (sṓphrōn, "prudent, temperate"), itself from σῶς (sôs, "safe, sound") and φρήν (phrḗn, "mind"). Unlike "temperance," which specifically denotes restraint of appetite, or "hubris," which is the fatal arrogance born of its absence, sophrosyne is the foundational harmony from which all moderation flows. It is the blacksmith who knows the exact moment to quench the blade, the orator who leaves the final argument unspoken, the athlete who withdraws while victory is still possible—the mind preserved in its wholeness, holding itself in quiet alignment with the possible.
Etymology
From the Ancient Greek Σωφροσῠ́νη (Sōphrosŭ́nē), from Ancient Greek σωφροσῠ́νη (sōphrosŭ́nē, “prudence”, “temperance”).
name
- 134 Sophrosyne, a main belt asteroid.
noun
- The Ancient Greek concept of an ideal of excellence of character and soundness of mind, which when combined in one well-balanced individual leads to other qualities, such as temperance, moderation, prudence, and self-control.e.g.“With them the gods were confederated to break barbarian arrogance. Nation and individual citizen, then as now, must reverence sophrosyne.” — 1924, Herbert Weir Smyth, “III. The Persians”, in Aeschylean Tragedy, page 89:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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