āthlēta, ae, com. (nom. athletes, Stat. S. 53, 222; acc. athletam, Plin. 7, 20, 19, § 83; v. Neue, Formenl. I. pp. 32, 593), = ἀθλητής,
a wrestler , a prize-fighter , athlete , Cic. Sen. 9, 27; id. Or. 68, 228; id. Tusc. 2, 23, 56; 2, 17, 40; Nep. Epam. 2, 4; Liv. 39, 22 al.— Trop., one who , by exertion and practice , has acquired much skill in a thing , a champion , master (only ante- and post-class.): pecuarii athletae, Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 2: athletae comitiorum, id. ib. 3, 5 fin.