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palestra

arena

noun pah-LEHS-trah Rare
Arts & Culture Literature

Origin: From Latin palaestra, from Greek palaistra (wrestling school), from palaiein (to wrestle).

Also means

public stage

Usage Note

Palestra is today almost exclusively used in the figurative fixed phrase salir a la palestra ('to enter the arena / take the floor / come into the spotlight'). Its literal sense of a Greek or Roman wrestling ground is largely confined to historical texts. A learner who sees this word in a newspaper should read it as 'public debate' or 'the spotlight,' not as a physical place.

Examples

"El ministro salió a la palestra para defenderse."

Natural Translation

The minister entered the arena to defend himself.

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