chrestomathy

C3H4R1E1S1T1O1M3A1T1H4Y4
/kɹɛˈstɒməθi/

noun

A collection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language.

“A Mencken Chrestomathy (1982)”

OriginNew Latin chrēstomathia ← Ancient Greek χρηστομᾰ́θειᾰ (khrēstomắtheiă) ← Proto-Hellenic *məntʰánō →
Scrabble 25
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Meanings

nounchrestomathy (plural chrestomathies)

plural chrestomathies

  1. A collection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language.

    EC Bridgman's Chinese Chrestomathy in the Canton Dialect (1841)

  2. A collection of choice passages from an author or authors.

    A Mencken Chrestomathy (1982)

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*gʰer-
  2. Ancient Greekχρηστός (khrēstós)
  3. Proto-Indo-European*men-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*men(s)dʰh₁-
  6. Proto-Hellenic*məntʰánō
  7. Ancient Greekμᾰνθᾰ́νω (mănthắnō)
  8. Ancient Greekχρηστομᾰθέω (khrēstomăthéō)
  9. Ancient Greekχρηστομᾰ́θειᾰ (khrēstomắtheiă)
  10. New Latinchrēstomathia
  11. Englishchrestomathy

From New Latin chrēstomathia, from Ancient Greek χρηστομάθεια (khrēstomátheia, “desire for learning; book containing a summary of useful knowledge or select passages,”).

More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan crestomatia
  • crestomatiacollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
Esperanto krestomatio
  • krestomatiocollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
Finnish krestomatia, lukemisto
  • krestomatiacollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
  • lukemistocollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
  • lukukirjacollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
  • krestomatiacollection of choice passages from an author or authors
  • lukemistocollection of choice passages from an author or authors
French chrestomathie
  • chrestomathiecollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
German Chrestomathie
  • Chrestomathiecollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
Italian crestomazia
  • crestomaziacollection of choice passages from an author or authors
Polish chrestomatia
  • chrestomatiacollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
Russian хрестома́тия, хрестома́тия
  • хрестома́тия (xrestomátija)collection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
  • хрестома́тия (xrestomátija)collection of choice passages from an author or authors
  • антоло́гия (antológija)collection of choice passages from an author or authors
Spanish crestomatía
  • crestomatíacollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
Swedish krestomati, läsebok
  • krestomaticollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
  • läsebokcollection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
Ukrainian хрестома́тія
  • хрестома́тія (xrestomátija)collection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar language
Yiddish כרעסטאָמאַטיע
  • כרעסטאָמאַטיע (khrestomatye)collection of choice passages from an author or authors
Cite this entry
APA

chrestomathy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chrestomathy

MLA

“chrestomathy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chrestomathy. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chrestomathy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chrestomathy.

Source: chrestomathy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.