Stade: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word 'stade' comes from the Ancient Greek word 'stadion', which referred to a unit of measurement and also to a sports event.
• Historically, a stade measured approximately 600 feet or around 180 meters.
• In ancient Olympic Games, the stade was the distance of a footrace, which became a key event in athletic competitions.

Literature

• In Homer's works, the stade is mentioned in context with footraces and competitions among heroes.
• The concept of a stade as a measurement appears in various historical texts detailing events of physical competitions and sportsmanship.
• Classical writers used the term to illustrate the vast distances heroes had to travel, emphasizing the trials within their journeys.

Sports

• In modern athletics, the concept of a stade persists as a measure to denote events and distances in track and field.
• The idea of stages or distances in a race can be traced back to ancient competitions that shaped the foundation of contemporary sports.
• Stade events emphasized physical prowess and were integral to the social and cultural practices of ancient societies.

Cultural Significance

• Stades often symbolized progress in life, representing steps taken towards achieving goals or completing challenges.
• In ancient societies, the stade was not just a measurement; it represented prestige, honor, and community involvement during games.
• The use of 'stade' reflects the value placed on athletics in ancient civilizations, showcasing the interplay between fitness and culture.

Measurement Systems

• Stade has been replaced in modern times by metric measurements, but its historical significance remains in archaic and regional references.
• Some ancient texts compare distances traveled in stades to later measurements, emphasizing the evolution of distance tracking.
• Despite being less common today, the stade helped pave the way for the development of more standardized measuring systems.

Ranking #38,726, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

• ...
• 38723 rioter
• 38724 marginalise
• 38725 liturgically
• 38726 stade
• 38727 hobos
• 38728 cavorted
• 38729 hothead
• ...