championship English · revision 4779

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1812|origins=en champion}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|champion|-ship]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The position of a champion: 1812 in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the position of champion or winner in a contest from 1825 in the OED and MWU.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED also records the older sense of acting as someone's champion, defending or supporting a person or cause, from 1840;^(OED 1989) it survives as the championship of a cause.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) A competition held to decide a champion, now the most common sense, is from 1893.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1812 – the position of a champion.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1825 – the title of winner in a contest.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1840 – the defence of a person or cause.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1893 – a competition to decide a champion.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[competition]] or series of contests held to find the best player or team.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The title or position of [[champion]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Active support or defence of a cause or person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prechampionship]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[champion]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}