spartan

See also: Spartan

English

Etymology

By analogy with the ancient Spartans, who famously possessed these qualities.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈspɑː(ɹ)tən/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Adjective

spartan (comparative more spartan, superlative most spartan)

1. Austere, frugal, characterized by self-denial.

   I went on the retreat to the monastery, thinking I would be sleeping in a spartan cell, only to discover a simple but comfortable bedroom.

   • 1960 June, R. C. Riley, “The coastal branches of South-East Devon: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 337:

     The engine was Class "3" 2-6-2 tank No. 82013, with Driver Sampson (Exmouth), and its roomy draught-free cab was a striking contrast to the spartan comfort offered on the Drummond tank.

   • 2020 August 26, “Network News: Stations investment boosts regeneration, says report”, in Rail, page 17:

     Among its findings, the report says: "In recent years we have seen more stations transformed from run-down Victorian hulks, or spartan bus-sheltered platforms, into places that people can take pride in, feel comfortable in using, and which are fulfilling more of their wider potential.

2. Resolute in the face of danger or adversity.

   The spartan legionaries vowed to fight to the death.

3. Lacking in decoration and luxury.

   After ten years as a fashion designer in the rough-and-tumble Garment District, Eloise left New York for the spartan but serene life of a farmer's wife.

   • 1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 4:

     [I]t was furnished with the spartan simplicity which characterizes womanless quarters.

Derived terms

• spartanness

Translations

austere, lacking luxury

• Danish: spartansk
• Dutch: spartaans (nl)
• Finnish: spartalainen (fi), askeettinen (fi)
• French: spartiate (fr)
• German: spartanisch (de)
• Italian: spartano (it)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: spartansk

  Nynorsk: spartansk

• Polish: spartański (pl)
• Swedish: spartansk (sv)

Anagrams

• partans, tarpans, trapans

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

spartan m (definite singular spartanen, indefinite plural spartanar, definite plural spartanane)

1. (pre-2016) alternative form of spartanar

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Spartanus or Italian spartano. By surface analysis, Sparta +‎ -an.

Adjective

spartan m or n (feminine singular spartană, masculine plural spartani, feminine and neuter plural spartane)

1. Spartan

Declension

Declension of spartan

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative/ accusative	indefinite	spartan		spartană	spartani	spartane
	definite	spartanul		spartana	spartanii	spartanele
genitive/ dative	indefinite	spartan		spartane	spartani	spartane
	definite	spartanului		spartanei	spartanilor	spartanelor

Noun

spartan m (plural spartani)

1. Spartan

Declension

Declension of spartan

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) spartan	spartanul	(niște) spartani	spartanii
genitive/dative	(unui) spartan	spartanului	(unor) spartani	spartanilor
vocative	spartanule		spartanilor

Swedish

Etymology

From Latin spartanus, equivalent to Sparta +‎ -an.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑːn

Noun

spartan c

1. Spartan, inhabitant of the ancient Greek town of Sparta

Declension

Declension of spartan

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	spartan	spartans
	definite	spartanen	spartanens
plural	indefinite	spartaner	spartaners
	definite	spartanerna	spartanernas

Derived terms

• spartansk

References

• spartan in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• spartan in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• spartan in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)