I. ˈstōik, -ōēk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin stoicus, adjective & noun, from Greek stōïkos, from Stoa ( Poikilē ) Painted Portico, a portico in Athens where Zeno taught (from stoa portico + poikilē, feminine of poikilos multicolored, painted) + -ikos -ic; akin to Greek stylos pillar — more at steer
1. usually capitalized : a member of a school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium about 300 B.C., extensively systematized by Chrysippus of Soli, and later developed and popularized by Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius
2. : one apparently or professedly indifferent to pleasure or pain : one not easily excited or upset
an absolute stoic in the face of mishaps — Thomas Hardy
II. adjective
or sto·i·cal -ōə̇kəl, -ōēk-
Etymology: stoic from Latin stoicus; stoical from Middle English, from Latin stoicus + Middle English -al
1. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or resembling the Stoics or their doctrines
2. : not affected by passion or feeling ; especially : manifesting indifference to pleasure or pain
the stoic courage which enabled him to bear perhaps the most dreadful of human afflictions — W.S.Maugham
she could only preach stoic patience to herself — Douglas Bush
a stoical person who does not allow a “mere pain” to interfere very much with what he is doing — Harold Shryock
drenched to the skin but calm and suavely stoical — Elinor Wylie
Synonyms: see impassive