Agonistic
/ˌæɡəˈnɪs.tɪk/noun
Relating to competition, struggle, or conflict; in biology, showing active opposition or antagonism.
Did you know?Agonistic comes from Greek agōn, the public contest that gave us both athletic competition and the intense idea of struggle as a sacred, high-stakes event.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ag-
“to drive, lead, move”
Ancient Greek
Greek
agṓn
“assembly, contest, struggle, especially in games or trials”
Ancient Greek
Greek
agōnistikós
“fit for contests; competitive”
Late Latin
Latin
agonisticus
“pertaining to contests”
16th–17th Century
English
agonistic
“relating to contests or struggle”
Modern English
English
agonistic
“characterized by opposition, conflict, or competition”
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