The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word STOIC
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result STOIC
- A lot of criticism about old philosopher
- Phlegmatic type almost shut in thus
- I suffer without complaining ’cos it is different
- … thus absorbing to Zeno, for one
- A stiff-upper-lip sort giving endless criticism about nowt
- Old beset by criticism, mostly long-suffering
- Phlegmatic type’s standing briefly recognised around India
- Job, perhaps one dividing half of sheep up
- Greek in school partially confesses to iconoclasm
- Philosopher one found in short supply
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The straight part
We know that "philosopher" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case philosopher = stoic.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STOIC mean?
STOIC noun- Proponent of stoicism, a school of thought, from in 300 B.C.E. up to about the time of Marcus Aurelius, who holds that by cultivating an understanding of the logos, or natural law, one can be free of suffering.
- A person indifferent to pleasure or pain.
- Of or relating to the Stoics or their ideas.
- Not affected by pain or distress.
- Not displaying any external signs of being affected by pain or distress.