Word Study
olympic
CIDE DICTIONARY
olympic, a. [L. Olympius, Olympicus, Gr. 'Oly`mpios, 'Olympiko`s, fr. 'O`lympos: cf. F. olympique. See Olympiad.].
Of or pertaining to Olympus, a mountain of Thessaly, fabled as the seat of the gods, or to Olympia, a small plain in Elis. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
olympic, adj. & n.
--adj. of ancient Olympia or the Olympic games.
--n. (the Olympics) the Olympic games.
--adj. of ancient Olympia or the Olympic games.
--n. (the Olympics) the Olympic games.
Idiom
Olympic games
1 an ancient Greek festival held at Olympia every four years, with athletic, literary, and musical competitions.
2 a modern international revival of this as a sports festival held every four years since 1896 in different venues.
1 an ancient Greek festival held at Olympia every four years, with athletic, literary, and musical competitions.
2 a modern international revival of this as a sports festival held every four years since 1896 in different venues.
Etymology
L Olympicus f. Gk Olumpikos of Olympus or Olympia (the latter being named from the games in honour of Zeus of Olympus)
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