athletic English · revision 7599

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1585|origins=grc ἀθλητής}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /æθˈlɛt.ɪk/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|athleticus]], perhaps through French athlétique,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from Greek [[m|grc|ἀθλητικός|tr=athlētikós]], from [[m|grc|ἀθλητής|tr=athlētḗs|t=contestant in the games]] (see [[athlete]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of athletes or contests of strength: 1585 in MWU, 1636 in the OED, the 1630s in Etymonline;^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) athletical is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Strong of body, robust, is from 1659 (the 1650s),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) a sense Johnson defined, spelling the word athletick.^(Etymonline) As a noun, an athlete, it is an obsolete sense of 1605.^(OED 1989) In Kretschmer's classification of body types, a muscular physique is from 1925.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1585 – of athletes.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1590s – athletical.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1659 – robust.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1925 – a body type.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, relating to or suitable for [[athlete|alt=athletes]] or [[athletics]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Physically strong and fit; [[muscular]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having a large frame and well-developed muscles.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[athletically]]

+ * [[athleticism]]

+ * [[nonathletic]]

+ * [[athletics]]

+ * [[unathletic]]

+ * [[athletic shoe]]

+ * [[athletic supporter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[athlete]]

+ * [[pentathlon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}