sportlich German · revision 36245

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1889|origins=la portō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sportlich''' (strong nominative masculine singular sportlicher, comparative sportlicher, superlative am sportlichsten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|de|Sport|-lich]], formed in the second half of the 19th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) The noun [[Sport]] was borrowed in the early 19th century from [[en|sport]], short for older [[m|en|disport|t=pastime, amusement]], which goes back through [[fro|desporter|t=to amuse oneself]] to [[la|dēportō|t=to carry away]], formed [[m|la|portō|t=to carry]].^(Kluge 2011|870)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) In Late Latin the verb also meant “to amuse”, literally “to carry one's attention away”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Deutsches Fremdwörterbuch's first record is from 1889, in the phrase ''elegante und sportliche Welt'' (“the elegant and sporting world”), meaning “relating to sport”.^(DFWB) The Grimms' dictionary defines it as “proper to or belonging to sport”, as in sporting achievements or a purely sporting interest.^(DWB|16, 2689)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the early 20th century ''sportlich'' was also said of people shaped by sport: trained, athletic, fit, mostly with reference to their appearance and bearing.^(DFWB) At about the same time it came to mean “keeping to the rules of a sport”, and by transfer “fair, comradely, disciplined”, with the opposite [[unsportlich]].^(DFWB) The noun [[Sportlichkeit]] followed in the early 20th century, both for athletic fitness and for fairness.^(DFWB)

+

+ Of clothing, ''sportlich'' “simple and practical in cut, youthful, smart” appears sporadically at the end of the 19th century and more often from the early 20th.^(DFWB) Today it can also describe a fast driving style or a powerful car.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 19th century – The noun ''Sport'' is borrowed from English.^(DFWB)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1889 – First record of the adjective ''sportlich''.^(DFWB)

+ * Early 20th century – The senses “athletic, fit” and “fair” become established, and the noun ''Sportlichkeit'' appears.^(DFWB)

+ * Early 20th century – ''sportlich'' is used more often of plain, practical clothing.^(DFWB)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to [[m|en|sport]], based on sport, or meant for sport.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|fair|alt=Fair]], [[m|en|sportsmanlike]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Like a sporting performance: fast, powerful (of a pace, a way of driving, a car or engine).^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Of a person: [[m|en|athletic]], trained, full of energy.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of clothing: simple and practical in cut, [[m|en|casual]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of an act or plan: ambitious, demanding great effort.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unsportlich]]

+ * [[Sportlichkeit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Sport]]

+ * [[Sportler]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}