Etymograph

English

athlete

Athlete comes from Latin āthlēta ‘wrestler, athlete’, from Ancient Greek ἀθλητής ‘a combatant, champion, especially a prizefighter’, and ultimately from ἆθλον.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἆθλονâthlon‘prize’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀθλέωathléō‘compete for a prize’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀθλητήςathlētḗs‘a combatant, champion, especially a prizefighter’
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEāthlēta‘wrestler, athlete’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500athlete
  6. Englishearliest quotation 2013same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἆθλονâthlon‘prize’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀθλέωathléō‘compete for a prize’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀθλητήςathlētḗs‘a combatant, champion, especially a prizefighter’
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEāthlēta‘wrestler, athlete’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500athlete
  6. Englishearliest quotation 2013same form

Earliest quotation: 2013, David S. Senchina, Athletics and Herbal Supplements: “Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- ‘to blow (of wind)’

event, wind, van, winter, wing, weather, velocity, ventilation, ventilate, 9 more

Today it means

noun A participant in any of a group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἆθλον / athlete

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