pentathlon

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek πένταθλον (péntathlon), from πέντε (pénte, five) + ἆθλον (âthlon, contest). By surface analysis, penta- +‎ -athlon.

Noun

pentathlon (plural pentathlons or pentathla)

  1. An ancient athletics discipline, featuring five events: stadion, wrestling, long jump, javelin and discus
    Synonyms: ancient pentathlon, Greek pentathlon, ancient Greek pentathlon
  2. (athletics) Ellipsis of women's pentathlon (a 20th-century athletics discipline for women, the women's counterpart of the men's decathlon, the predecessor to the women's heptathlon, featuring five events: hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump, and a run).
  3. (athletics) Ellipsis of modern pentathlon, a discipline with five events based on late-19th century basic military skills.
    • 2008 August 21, “The old school survives at the Olympics, amid new events”, in The New York Times[1]:
      In the end, why not be happy with both, with the BMXes and the pentathlons, with the swans of synchro and the Quasimodos of wrestling? Sweet.
    • 2021 November 3, Victor Mather, “Modern Pentathlon Drops Equestrian Competition After Abuse Claims”, in The New York Times[2]:
      Dwindling interest and a reputation for being outdated couldn’t change modern pentathlon. A brief video clip of a coach punching a horse at the Tokyo Olympics has altered it forever.

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Japanese: ペンタスロン (pentasuron)

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek πένταθλον (péntathlon).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pɛ̃.tat.lɔ̃/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

pentathlon m (plural pentathlons)

  1. pentathlon (discipline made up of five events)

Derived terms

Further reading

Italian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek πένταθλον (péntathlon).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɛn.ta.tlon/
  • Rhymes: -ɛntatlon
  • Hyphenation: pèn‧tath‧lon

Noun

pentathlon m (invariable)

  1. pentathlon

Further reading