athleticizev.
/aθˈlɛtᵻsʌɪz/, /əθˈlɛtᵻsʌɪz/, U.S. /æθ(ə)ˈlɛdəˌsaɪz/ transitive. To make more athletic; to make fit, strong, agile, etc.In quot. 1879 with reference to mental agility; cf. athlete n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > intellectual superiority > render intellectual [verb (transitive)]
intellectualize?1792
athleticize1879
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > athletics > contend in athletics [verb (transitive)] > make athletic
athleticize1879
1879 Harper's Mag. Feb. 417/2 Children..are confused oftentimes with knowledge rather than athleticized by training in elements of mental power.
1897 Eclectic Mag. Oct. 523 France, superficially, has become Anglicized, athleticised.
1919 W. Camp Athletes All Pref. p. vii The American is now athleticizing (if one may use the word) all our foreign allies.
2003 D. Putney Muscular Christianity iv. 108 Episcopal boarding schools like Groton actually made good on their promise to athleticize rich boys and to give them useful contacts.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
v.1879