champion English · revision 4198

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la campus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtʃæm.pi.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|champiun]], champioun,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|champion|t=combatant, champion in single combat]], 12th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-med|campiō|t=gladiator, fighter, combatant in the field]] (accusative campiōnem),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[la|campus|t=field, place of combat]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) Merriam-Webster takes the Medieval Latin word as of West Germanic origin, akin to Old English cempa “warrior”;^(MWU 2024) Etymonline says Old English had borrowed the Latin word earlier as cempa.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[camp]], [[campus]] and [[campaign]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A fighting man, a combatant: probably before 1200 in the Ancrene Riwle according to Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) before 1225 in the OED^(OED 1989) and the early 13th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “One who fights on behalf of another, or of a cause” is from about 1300,^(Etymonline) 1292 in the OED,^(OED 1989) including the knight who fought in trial by battle for another.^(OED 1989) Originally both the challenger and the defending fighter were champions.^(Cresswell 2021) The sporting sense, the person who holds first place after a public contest, is from 1730,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and the prize-winning animal or plant from 1717.^(OED 1989) The verb first meant “to challenge”, in Shakespeare's Macbeth (1605);^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) “to fight for, defend” is from 1820, in Scott,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the figurative “to advocate, support” from 1830 or 1844.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) ''Championship'' is from 1825.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – a fighting man.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1292 – one who fights for another.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – verb, to challenge.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1717 – a prize-winning animal.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1730 – a sporting champion.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1820 – verb, to defend.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1825 – ''championship''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person, team or animal that wins first place in a competition.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # One who is clearly superior, with the qualities of a winner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An ardent defender or supporter of a cause or person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A fighter; a [[warrior]], especially one who fought for another.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fight for, defend or support: ''championed the rights of tenants''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To defy or challenge.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Holding first place: ''a champion swimmer''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[championless]]

+ * [[championlike]]

+ * [[nonchampion]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[championship]]

+ * [[camp]]

+ * [[campus]]

+ * [[campaign]]

+ * [[kemp]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}