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pentathlon

pentathlon

2 7.3
A sports contest where an athlete competes in five different events
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛnˌθætlən/
: pentatlón
  • The pentathlon requires participants to demonstrate versatility across multiple disciplines.
  • modern pentathlon
  • pentathlon competition
  • Olympic pentathlon

And also modern pentathlon that was in it.

Examples

  • All participants in the women's 800 meter pentathlon.

  • The pentathlon is one event.

  • This is the fourth of five events in the pentathlon.

  • Competition in the pentathlon long jump has been delayed.

  • We're ready now for the 800 meters, the final event of the pentathlon.

  • So, after two of five events in the pentathlon, Pooch Anderson in first.

  • The pentathlon was an overall event consisting of the 100-yard dash, 12-pound hammer throw, running high jump, pole vault, and the one-mile run (Gulick, 1892).

    Academic text (1996)
  • In the pentathlon, athletes compete in five different events to showcase their skills.

  • To win the pentathlon, competitors must excel in events like fencing and swimming.

Surface Forms

pentathlon singular
pentathlons plural

Morphology

pentathlon = pent + athlon

Formed from the numeric combining form 'pent-' (five) + the combining element '-athlon' (contest), so the meaning 'five-event athletic contest' is directly derivable from its parts.

Etymology

The word pentathlon comes from two Greek parts: penta- meaning 'five' and athlon meaning 'contest' or 'prize'. Think of pentagon, which also uses penta- for five, so a pentathlon is simply a sports contest made of five events.