Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
pentathlon [pen-tath-luh n, -lon] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- an athletic contest comprising five different track and field events and won by the contestant gaining the highest total score.
- modern pentathlon.
Origin of pentathlon 1700–10; Greek pénthāthlon, equivalent to pent- pent- + âthlon contest Examples from the Web for pentathlon Historical Examples of pentathlon
He had the three games out of five and was winner of the pentathlon.
Jennie Hall
They had already completed the chariot-race, and the foot-race of the pentathlon.
Xenophon
And he who is beautiful for the Pentathlon is very bad for wrestling?
Epictetus
He was awfully keen on the Pentathlon; wanted to have it at the sports.
Anthony Hope
The Pentathlon, so called because it comprised five exercises.
History Of Ancient Civilization
Charles Seignobos
British Dictionary definitions for pentathlon pentathlon noun
- an athletic contest consisting of five different events, based on a competition in the ancient Greek OlympicsCompare decathlon
Derived Formspentathlete, nounWord Origin for pentathlon C18: from Greek pentathlon, from penta- + athlon contest Word Origin and History for pentathlon n.
athletic contest of five events, 1852, from Greek pentathlon “the contest of five exercises,” from pente “five” (see five) + athlon “prize, contest,” of uncertain origin. Earlier in English in Latin form pentathlum (1706). The Greek version consisted of jumping, sprinting, discus and spear throwing, and wrestling. The modern version (1912) consists of horseback riding, fencing, shooting, swimming, and cross-country running.