ἆθλος

English (LSJ)

ὁ, contr. from Ep. and Ion. ἄεθλος, which alone is used by Hom. (except in Od.8.160), and mostly by Hdt. and Pi.:—

   A contest either in war or sport, esp. contest for a prize, Hom.; νικᾶν τοιῷδ' ἐπ' ἀέθλῳ (for the arms of Achilles) Od. 11.548; ἄεθλος πρόκειται a task is set one, Hdt.1.126; ἐμοὶ μὲν οὗτος ἄ. ὑποκείσεται Pi.O.1.84; ἄεθλον προτιθέναι to set it, Hdt.7.197; ἆθλοι Πυθικοί, Δελφικοί, S.El.49,682; toil, Pi.P.4.165; of the labours of Heracles, D.S.4.11, etc.: metaph., conflict, struggle, ordeal, Alc.33, A.Pr.702, 752, S.Ant.856.    II = ἆθλον 1, Theoc.8.11sqq.—On the proper difference of ἆθλον and ἆθλος v. ἆθλον 11. (For ἄϝεθλος, ἄϝεθλον, as in IG5(2).75.)