释义 |
athletic, a. and n.|æθˈlɛtɪk| Also 7 -ique. [ad. L. āthlētic-us, Gr. ἀθλητικός, f. ἀθλητής: see prec. and -ic.] A. adj. 1. Pertaining to an athlete, or to contests in which physical strength is vigorously exercised. Also fig.
1636Sanderson Serm. Ad Aul. (1681) II. 58 Ὑποπιάζω..is an Athletique Pugilar word. 1691Ray Creation (1704) Ded. 3 Your Athletic Conflicts with the greatest of Temporal Evils. 1748Phil. Trans. XLV. 607 For the baiting of wild beasts, or other athletic diversions. 1875Helps Anim. & Masters v. 131 He was never much given to athletic pursuits. 2. Of the nature of, or befitting, an athlete; physically powerful, muscular, robust.
1659Hammond On Ps. lxxiii. 4 An athletick health and habit of body. 1751Chesterfield Lett. 268 III. 231 He is an athletic Hibernian, handsome in his person. 1877Field Killarney to Gold. Horn 121 That little brook..an athletic leaper would almost clear at a single bound. 3. In Kretschmer's system, designating a type of physique characterized by well-developed muscles (see quots.); mesomorphic.
1925W. J. H. Sprott tr. Kretschmer's Physique & Character i. ii. 24 The male athletic type is recognised by the strong development of the skeleton, the musculature and also the skin. 1937R. H. Thouless Gen. & Social Psychol. (ed. 2) vi. 109 [Kretschmer] divides men into three physical types: the athletic (large muscle and bones), the asthenic or leptosomatic (lean, flat-chested, and narrow-shouldered), and the pyknic (with tendency to rounded contours of face and body). †B. n. a. = athletics. b. An athlete. Obs.
1605Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. x. §1 Art of activity, which is called athletic. 1696J. Edwards Exist. & Prov. God i. 25 Some celebrated athletick that is famous for his nimbleness of feet. 1817Jas. Mill India I. ii. vii. 315 The magistrate..shall retain in his service..jesters, and dancers, and athletics. ¶ See also athletics. |