athlete English · revision 7609

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1425|origins=grc ἀθλητής}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæθ.ə.liːt/; /ˈæθ.liːt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈæθ.lit/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|athleta|alt=āthlēta|t=wrestler, athlete]], perhaps at first directly from Greek,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Greek [[m|grc|ἀθλητής|tr=athlētḗs|t=prizefighter, contestant in the games]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from athleîn, to compete for a prize,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) from âthlos, a contest, and âthlon, a prize,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A competitor in athletic games: probably before 1425, in Chauliac;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) athelete 1528.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that it first referred to competitors in the running, leaping, boxing and wrestling of the public games of Greece and Rome.^(Cresswell 2021) Until the mid-18th century it was usually in the Latin form athleta,^(Etymonline) and Hoad records it once in the 15th century and in English use from the 18th.^(Hoad 1986) Old English had plegmann, play-man.^(Etymonline) Figurative use is from 1759,^(OED 1989) and one trained to great strength and agility from 1827.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Athlete's foot'' is recorded by 1928.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In British use an athlete is especially a competitor in track and field events.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – athletez.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1528 – athelete.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1759 – figurative use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1827 – a trained strongman.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1928 – athlete's foot.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person trained or skilled in [[sport|alt=sports]] or exercises needing strength, speed or endurance.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A competitor in track and field events.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[biathlete]]

+ * [[decathlete]]

+ * [[heptathlete]]

+ * [[nonathlete]]

+ * [[pentathlete]]

+ * [[superathlete]]

+ * [[triathlete]]

+ * [[athlete's foot]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[athletic]]

+ * [[athletics]]

+ * [[pentathlon]]

+ * [[decathlon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}