lanista
1
9.9
A person who trained and managed gladiators in ancient Rome
- noun
- /ləˈnɪstə/
:
lanista
- In ancient Rome, the lanista played a crucial role in preparing gladiators for battle.
Examples
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As the lanista, he was responsible for training the greatest gladiators in the arena.
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Every successful gladiatorial school relied on a skilled lanista to manage the fighters.
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- The lanista, sir.
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As I told you, I'm Lentulus Batiatus, the lanista from Capua.
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word lanista comes from Latin and named the person who trained and managed gladiators in ancient Rome. A helpful way to remember it is that some experts link it to the Latin verb lanio, meaning 'to tear', which fits the violent fights a lanista ran and explains the word's meaning today.