gladiator

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   in ancient Rome, a trained fighter who took part in public arena combats against other people or animals

   The gladiator entered the arena carrying a sword and a small shield.

2. 2
   noun

   figurative: a person who competes or argues fiercely before the public

   The veteran lawyer was known as a formidable courtroom gladiator.

From Latin gladiator ("swordsman, fighter in public games"), from gladius ("sword"). Gladius was probably borrowed into Latin from a Celtic language. The figurative English sense preserves the spectacle and ferocity associated with combat in a Roman arena.

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