English
agonist
Agonist comes from Ancient Greek ἀγωνιστής ‘combatant, champion’, from ἀγωνίζομαι ‘I contend for a prize’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- ‘to drive’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eǵ-‘to drive’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂éǵeti‘to be driving’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*ágō‘to lead, to guide’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓́γωắgō‘to lead’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγών‘a contest, competition’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγωνίζομαι‘I contend for a prize’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγωνιστήςagōnistḗs‘combatant, champion’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEagōnista
- Englishtodayagonist
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eǵ-‘to drive’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂éǵeti‘to be driving’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*ágō‘to lead, to guide’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓́γωắgō‘to lead’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγών‘a contest, competition’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγωνίζομαι‘I contend for a prize’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγωνιστήςagōnistḗs‘combatant, champion’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEagōnista
- Englishtodayagonist
Equivalent to agon or agony + -ist
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- ‘to drive’
suggest, reaction, actively, essay, register, transaction, acre, radioactive, gesture, inactive, digest, congestion, belligerent, agrarian, retroactive, unambiguous, hyperactivity, progesterone, reagent, gestation, ingestion, ingest, agitate, ambiguously, samaj, agger, gerund, gestion, 131 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti ‘to be driving’
act, action, active, activity, actual, agency, actor, agent, agenda, activate, ambiguous, squat, ambiguity, assay, agile, agility, agitation, radium, actuator, cogent, axiomatic, actuation, inexact, exigent, actuate, 114 more
through Proto-Hellenic *ágō ‘to lead, to guide’
strategy, axiom, stratagem, glucagon, 25 more
through Ancient Greek ἀγών ‘a contest, competition’
through Ancient Greek ἀγωνίζομαι ‘I contend for a prize’
Today it means
noun Someone involved in a contest or battle (as in an agon), protagonist.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- / agonist