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gladiators - 2 dictionary results

glad⋅i⋅a⋅tor

[glad-ee-ey-ter]
–noun
1. (in ancient Rome) a person, often a slave or captive, who was armed with a sword or other weapon and compelled to fight to the death in a public arena against another person or a wild animal, for the entertainment of the spectators.
2. a person who engages in a fight or controversy.
3. a prizefighter.

Origin:
1535–45; < L gladiātor, equiv. to gladi(us) sword + -ātor -ator
glad·i·a·tor   (glād'ē-ā'tər)   
n.  
  1. A person, usually a professional combatant, a captive, or a slave, trained to entertain the public by engaging in mortal combat with another person or a wild animal in the ancient Roman arena.
  2. A person engaged in a controversy or debate, especially in public; a disputant.
  3. Sports A professional boxer.

[Middle English, from Latin gladiātor, from gladius, sword, of Celtic origin.]
glad'i·a·to'ri·al (-ə-tôr'ē-əl, -tōr'-) adj.
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