athlete, athlet

[In Dan. & Ger. athlet; Fr. athlète; Sp. & Ital. atleta; Port. athleta; Lat. athleta, athletes; Gr. ἀθλητής (athletes): from Lat. athlon and athla; Gr. ἆθλον ( athlon ) = a struggle, a work, a labour.] L Literally: 1. Originally : A man trained to contend in some one of the physical exercises established among the Greeks and Romans. These were five in number-viz., running, leaping, boxing, wrestling, and throwing the discus or quoit. "David's combat compared with that of Dioxippus, the A then i an athlete."-Delany: Life of David. 2. Now ( in a more general sense): A person with strongly-developed muscles, and trained to contend in exercises which require for succe much physical strength. "Having opposed to him a vigorous athlete."-A. Smith: Theory of Moral Sentiments. II. Figuratively : An intellectually strong and well-educated man who contends against opponents, not with his muscles, but with his mind. "But I submit, that the dictum of a mathematical athlete upon a difficult problem which mathematics offers to philosophy, has no more special weight than the verdict of that great pedestrian, Captain Barclay, would have had in settling a disputed point in the physiology of locomotion. "Huxley: Lay Sermons, 5th ed.; Prefatory Letter, vi.