Word: sport Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des- Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *-téh₂ Proto-Indo-European *pr̥téh₂ Proto-Italic *portā Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Proto-Italic *portāō Latin portāre Old French porter Anglo-Norman desporterbor. Middle English disporten Middle English sporten English sport From Middle English sporten (“to divert, disport”, verb) and sport, spoort, sporte (noun), apheretic shortenings of disporten (verb) and disport, disporte (noun), from Old French desporter (“to divert, amuse, please, play; to seek amusement”), etymologically meaning "to carry away (the mind from serious matters)," from des- + porter, from Latin dis- + Latin portāre, ultimately from Latin deportāre, from de- + portāre, from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to lead, pass over”)). Replaced native English laik, lake (“sport, fun, amusement”), and Middle English spile, spyl (“fun, sport, play”). More at disport. Doublet of disport and deport. Pronunciation: /spɔːt/, /spɔɹt/, [spɔɹʔ], /spɔː/, /spo(ː)ɹt/ 1. Any activity that uses physical exertion or skills competitively under a set of rules that is not based on aesthetics. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Basketball is her favorite sport, and she also enjoys various other sports as well. Example: Sport can be an excellent form of exercise because the competition and sense of achievement can help with both motivation and pleasure. 2. A person who exhibits either good or bad sportsmanship. Labels: countable Example: Jen may have won, but she was sure a poor sport; she laughed at the loser. Example: The loser was a good sport, and congratulated Jen on her performance. 3. Somebody who behaves or reacts in an admirably good-natured manner, e.g. to being teased or to losing a game; a good sport. Labels: countable Example: You're such a sport! You never get upset when we tease you. 4. Something fun, pastime; amusement. Labels: archaic, countable, uncountable Example: Think it but a minute spent in sport. Example: Her sports were such as carried riches of knowledge upon the stream of delight. 5. Mockery, making fun; derision. Labels: archaic, countable, uncountable Example: Why then make ſport at me, then let me be your ieſt 6. A toy; a plaything; an object of mockery. Labels: countable Example: flitting leaves, the sport of every wind Example: Never does man appear to greater disadvantage than when he is the sport of his own ungoverned passions. 7. Gaming for money as in racing, hunting, or fishing. Labels: uncountable 8. A plant or an animal, or part of a plant or animal, which has some peculiarity not usually seen in the species; an abnormal variety or growth. The term encompasses both mutants and organisms with non-genetic developmental abnormalities such as birth defects. Labels: countable Example: We never shot another like it, so I do not know if it was a `sport' or a distinct species. Example: At Hortus Bulborum you will find heirloom narcissi that date back at least to the 15th century and famous old tulips like 'Duc van Tol' (1595) and its sports. 9. A sportsman; a gambler. Labels: countable, slang Example: See my dressed like all the sports/In my blazer and a pair of shorts. 10. One who consorts with disreputable people, including prostitutes. Labels: countable, slang 11. An amorous dalliance. Labels: obsolete, uncountable 12. A friend or acquaintance (chiefly used when speaking to the friend in question) Labels: countable, informal, singular, uncountable, usually Example: "Say, sport!" he would say briskly. 13. Term of endearment used by an adult for a child, usually a boy. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Hey, sport! You've gotten so big since I saw you last! Give me five. Example: Tie me kangaroo down, sport/Tie me kangaroo down/Tie me kangaroo down, sport/Tie me kangaroo down. 14. Play; idle jingle. Labels: archaic, countable, uncountable Example: 1725-1726, William Broome, The Odyssey An author who should introduce such a sport of words upon our stage […] would meet with small applause.