Olympian
proper noun
- one of the ancient Greek deities dwelling on Olympus
- a participant in the Olympic Games
- a native or inhabitant of Olympia
- a native or inhabitant of the ancient Greek region of Olympia
- a being of lofty detachment or superior attainments
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈlɪm.pɪ.ən/ / /əˈlɪm.pi.ən/
adj
Etymology: From Late Latin Olympianus (“Olympic”) + English -an (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘of or pertaining to’, or forming agent nouns). Olympianus is derived from Latin Olympia (“town in Elis, Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held”) + -ānus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’); and Olympia is from Ancient Greek Ὀλυμπῐ́ᾱ (Olumpĭ́ā, “Olympia”), from Ὀλῠ́μπῐος (Olŭ́mpĭos, “of or pertaining to Mount Olympus; living on Mount Olympus, Olympian; (specifically) Zeus”) or Ὄλῠμπος (Ólŭmpos, “Mount Olympus”) (see further at etymology 1) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). As regards noun sense 1 (“inhabitant of the city of Olympia, Washington, United States”), the city was named after the Olympic Mountains which are visible to the northwest, which in turn were named after Mount Olympus in Greece.
- Of or relating to the town of Olympia in Elis, Greece; Olympic.
- Of or relating to the ancient Olympic Games held at Olympia; Olympic.
“For he [Alexander the Great] was not (as his father Philip [II of Macedon]) deſirous of all kind of glorie: who like a Rhetoritian had a delight to vtter his eloquence, and ſtamped in his coines, the victories he had wonne at the Olympian games, by the ſwift running of his horſe and coaches. For when he was asked one day (becauſe he was ſwift of foot) whether he would aſſay to run for victorie at the Olympian games: I could be content, ſaid he, ſo I might run with kings.”
“The Olympian Games were celebrated at the Full Moon after the Somer Solſtice, ſo the Olympian Years begin at that Seaſon.”
- Of or relating to the modern Olympic Games; Olympic.
noun
Etymology: From Late Latin Olympianus (“Olympic”) + English -an (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘of or pertaining to’, or forming agent nouns). Olympianus is derived from Latin Olympia (“town in Elis, Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held”) + -ānus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’); and Olympia is from Ancient Greek Ὀλυμπῐ́ᾱ (Olumpĭ́ā, “Olympia”), from Ὀλῠ́μπῐος (Olŭ́mpĭos, “of or pertaining to Mount Olympus; living on Mount Olympus, Olympian; (specifically) Zeus”) or Ὄλῠμπος (Ólŭmpos, “Mount Olympus”) (see further at etymology 1) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). As regards noun sense 1 (“inhabitant of the city of Olympia, Washington, United States”), the city was named after the Olympic Mountains which are visible to the northwest, which in turn were named after Mount Olympus in Greece.
- An inhabitant of the city of Olympia, the capital of Washington, United States.
- A sportsperson competing in the ancient Olympic Games.
“And I haue ſeene thee pauſe, and take thy breath, / When that a ring of Greekes haue ſhruped thee in, / Like an Olympian wraſtling.”
- A sportsperson competing in the modern Olympic Games.
“I will forever carry the pride and privilege of representing this amazing country on the grandest global stage. There is so much that comes with that, with being an Olympian. But now, because of Covid-19, some athletes will never get that honour. […] There will be people who were getting the timing right for 2020 who won't be in 2021. From in one year does not guarantee form in the next. That is absolutely heart-breaking. There will be athletes in the community that should have become Olympians. Because of Covid-19, they will never get that opportunity.”
“[…] Olympians’ mental health has never been a key concern for the sports governing bodies that oversee them.”