champion: [13] Etymologically, a champion is someone who fought in the campus or arena. Latin campus (source of English camp) meant, among other things, ‘field of battle’ – both a fullscale military battlefield and an area for staged battles between gladiators. Those who fought in such battles – the gladiators – were called in medieval Latin campiones.
The word passed into English via Old French champion. The word’s original meaning survives historically in such phrases as ‘king’s champion’, someone who will fight on behalf of the king, and by extension in ‘supporter’, as in ‘a champion of prisoners’ rights’. The modern sense ‘winner’ did not develop until the early 19th century. The abbreviated form champ is 19th-century American.
An alternative and now obsolete form of the word is campion, from Old Northern French, and it has been speculated that this is the origin of the plant-name campion [16], on the basis that it was used to make garlands for fighters. => camp, campion, champagne, champion
champion (n.)
early 13c., "doughty fighting man, valorous combatant," also (c. 1300) "one who fights on behalf of another or others," from Old French champion "combatant, champion in single combat" (12c.), from Late Latin campionem (nominative campio) "gladiator, fighter, combatant in the field," from Latin campus "field (of combat);" see campus. Had been borrowed earlier by Old English as cempa. Sports sense in reference to "first-place performer in some field" is recorded from 1730.
champion (v.)
"to fight for, defend, protect," 1820 (Scott) in a literal sense, from champion (n.). Figurative use by 1830. Earlier it meant "to challenge" (c. 1600). Related: Championed; championing.
实用例句
1. The heavyweight champion will be given a shot at Holyfield's world title.
这名重量级拳击冠军将尝试挑战霍利菲尔德的世界冠军头衔。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He was a champion for Latinos and blacks within the educational system.
他一直致力于在教育系统内为美籍拉美人和黑人争取权益。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Lewis is matched against the WBO's heavyweight champion, Tommy Morrison.
刘易斯对决世界拳击组织的重量级拳王汤米·莫里森。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Comet also sired the champion foal out of Spinway Harvest.
“彗星”还跟“斯平威·哈维斯特”生下了这匹出类拔萃的小马驹。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Gary Kasparov has retained his title as world chess champion.
