athleta Latin · revision 9329

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Varro|origins=grc ἆθλος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [aːtʰˈɫeː.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [atˈlɛː.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''āthlēta''' ''m'' (genitive āthlētae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Statius has the Greek nominative ''athlētēs''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἀθλητής|tr=athlētḗs|t=competitor, champion]], from [[m|grc|ἀθλέω|tr=athléō|t=to compete for a prize]], from [[m|grc|ἆθλος|tr=âthlos|t=contest]] or [[m|grc|ἆθλον|tr=âthlon|t=prize]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Varro.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC and has Cicero first.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a competitor in the public games, an athlete or wrestler, as in Cicero, and with a genitive an expert, an old hand at something, as in Varro.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Christian Latin ''athlēta Christī'' was a champion of the faith, a martyr.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it for an athlete, a wrestler, a champion and a martyr.^(DMLBS) [[en|athlete]] is first recorded in the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of competitors in the games.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''athlete'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A competitor in public games, an [[m|en|athlete]], [[m|en|wrestler]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # An expert, old hand.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A champion of the faith, [[m|en|martyr]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[āthlēticus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|athlete]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}