Gladiator
/ˈɡlæd.i.eɪ.tər/noun
A person trained to fight, especially one who fought against others or wild animals in ancient Rome.
Did you know?Gladiator comes from Latin *gladius* (“sword”), and Roman gladiators were so culturally powerful that the word’s root also survives in *gladiolus*, named for its sword-shaped leaves.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰel-
“to shine, gleam; possibly the distant source of words for bright or cutting things”
Latin
Latin
gladius
“sword”
Late Latin
Latin
gladiator
“swordsman; sword-fighter”
Middle English
English
gladiatour / gladiatour
“a Roman fighter in the arena”
Modern English
English
gladiator
“a trained combatant, especially in ancient Roman entertainment”