Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sportsperson” come from?

sportsperson (English) comes from English sports, from English sport, from Middle English sport, from Middle English disport, from Old French desport, from Old French deport, from Latin deportō, from Latin dē- — afterwards, post; by, at.

sportsperson (English): Someone who plays sport, regardless of gender

Definitions

  1. Someone who plays sport, regardless of gender

Ancestry of “sportsperson”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishsportsplural of sport; Third-person singular simple...
2EnglishsportAny activity that uses physical exertion or...
3Middle Englishsport—
4Middle Englishdisport—
5Old FrenchdesportAlternative form of deport
6Old Frenchdeportenjoyment; fun
7Latindeportō—
8Latindē-—
9Latindē—
10Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
11Latinposteablative singular of postis
12Proto-Italicposti—
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
14Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “sportsperson”

  • sportspersonship
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →