spartan

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈspɑː(ɹ)tən/ See IPA manual

Freq #15897

Meanings

1

adj
Very simple and plain, with no comfort or luxury.

The soldiers slept in spartan rooms with only a bed and a chair.
2

adj
Marked by strict self-discipline and self-denial.

He follows a spartan diet of plain rice and vegetables.
3

noun
A citizen of the ancient Greek city of Sparta.

The Spartans were famous for their courage in battle.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · very simple and plain, with... austere bare plain simple unadorned

2 adj · marked by strict... ascetic severe frugal

Word family

Derived forms spartanismspartanlyspartanness

Simplified etymology

Spartan takes its name from the Spartans of ancient Greece, whose severe way of life gave the adjective its sense of lacking comfort or luxury.

Etymology

From Middle English Spartan, Spertan, from Latin Spartānus, from Sparta + -ānus, equivalent to Sparta + -an.

Spartan Middle English Spartānus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# spartan

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈspɑː(ɹ)tən/
**Frequency rank:** 15897

## Meanings
1. Very simple and plain, with no comfort or luxury.
2. Marked by strict self-discipline and self-denial.
3. A citizen of the ancient Greek city of Sparta.

## Examples
- The soldiers slept in spartan rooms with only a bed and a chair.
- He follows a spartan diet of plain rice and vegetables.
- The Spartans were famous for their courage in battle.

## Derived Forms
- spartanism
- spartanly
- spartanness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: Spartan
- Root: Spartānus

## Etymology
From Middle English Spartan, Spertan, from Latin Spartānus, from Sparta + -ānus, equivalent to Sparta + -an.

## AI Etymology
Spartan is from Middle English Spartan, Spertan, from Latin Spartānus, from Sparta + -ānus, equivalent to Sparta + -an. In present-day use, it can mean very simple and plain, with no comfort or luxury, or marked by strict self-discipline and self-denial. Derived formations include spartanism, spartanly, and spartanness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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