ἀγωνιστής

Forms

ᾰ̓γωνῐστής (agōnistḗs) m (genitive ᾰ̓γωνῐστοῦ); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Ancient Greek ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomai, “to contend for a prize”) + -τής (-tḗs), the suffix of agent nouns.^[1] The verb is formed from ἀγών (agṓn, “contest”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Herodotus, for competitors in the games.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

Thucydides sets the contestants in a debate against those who judge it, and Euripides uses the word figuratively for an opponent.^[2][3] Plato has it for debaters who argue to win rather than to find the truth, and in Aristotle and Aeschines it means an actor.^[2][3] An inscription from Eretria uses it for competitors in musical contests.^[2]

It came to mean a champion of a cause: Aeschines speaks of champions of virtue, as does the Fourth Book of Maccabees.^[2][3] Isocrates and Demosthenes use it for a master of an art such as geometry, and Polybius for the promoter of an enterprise, while Plutarch applies it to racehorses.^[2][3] Medieval vernacular Greek used it for those who struggle for their faith, such as martyrs.^[5]

Modern Greek αγωνιστής (agonistís) is a fighter for a cause or ideal, such as freedom.^[6] The English agonist comes from Latin agōnista and the Greek word.^[7]

Timeline

• 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for competitors in the games.^[2][3]
• 5th century BC – Thucydides contrasts the contestants in a debate with its judges.^[2]
• 5th–4th century BC – Isocrates uses it for a master of an art.^[2]
• 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for actors.^[2][3]
• 4th century BC – Aeschines calls men champions of virtue.^[2][3]
• 2nd century BC – Polybius uses it for the promoter of an enterprise.^[3][2]
• 1st–2nd century AD – Plutarch uses it as an adjective for racehorses.^[2][3]
• 1100–1669 – Vernacular Greek uses it for those who struggle for their faith.^[5]
• 1876 – The English word agonist appears in writing on Greek drama.^[7]
• Modern Greek – The learned αγωνιστής (agonistís) is a fighter for a cause.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A competitor in the games, a contestant.^[3][2]
2. An opponent, adversary; a rival.^[3][2]
3. A combatant in war.^[3]
4. A debater or disputant; in law, a pleader or advocate.^[3][2]
5. An actor.^[3][2]
6. A champion of a cause or of one's country.^[3][2]
7. A master of an art or science.^[2]
8. A promoter of an enterprise.^[3]

Word family

• ἀνταγωνιστής (antagōnistḗs)
• πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs)

Related words

• ἀγών (agṓn)
• ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomai)
• ἀγωνία (agōnía)
• English agonist

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
4. ^ Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
5. ^ a b Kriaras, Emmanuel, Επιτομή του Λεξικού της μεσαιωνικής ελληνικής δημώδους γραμματείας 1100–1669, Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας, https://www.greek-language.gr
6. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com