Heptathlon
/hɛpˈtæθ.lɒn/noun
A combined athletic competition made up of seven events.
Did you know?Heptathlon comes from Greek hepta (“seven”) + athlon (“contest, prize”), and that same athlon root also lives in words for struggle and athletic achievement.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἑπτάθλον (heptathlon)
“a contest of seven events; literally a seven-part prize or struggle”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἑπτά (hepta)
“seven”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἆθλον (athlon)
“prize, contest, or feat won in competition”
Late Latin / Modern scholarly usage
Latin
heptathlon
“a learned formation used for a seven-event competition”
Modern English
English
heptathlon
“a combined track-and-field competition of seven events”
Explore more surprising origins