Etymologically
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athletic

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /æθˈlɛt.ɪk/ (UK)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin athleticus, perhaps through French athlétique,[2][3][4] from Greek ἀθλητικός (athlētikós), from ἀθλητής (athlētḗs, “contestant in the games”) (see athlete).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of athletes or contests of strength: 1585 in MWU, 1636 in the OED, the 1630s in Etymonline;[3][5][2] athletical is from the 1590s.[2]

Semantic evolution

Strong of body, robust, is from 1659 (the 1650s),[5][2] a sense Johnson defined, spelling the word athletick.[2] As a noun, an athlete, it is an obsolete sense of 1605.[5] In Kretschmer's classification of body types, a muscular physique is from 1925.[5]

Timeline

  • 1585 – of athletes.[3]
  • 1590s – athletical.[2]
  • 1659 – robust.[5]
  • 1925 – a body type.[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of, relating to or suitable for athletes or athletics.
  2. Physically strong and fit; muscular.
  3. Having a large frame and well-developed muscles.

Word family

  • athletically
  • athleticism
  • nonathletic
  • athletics
  • unathletic
  • athletic shoe
  • athletic supporter

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press