SPARTAN

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Spartan mean? 

• SPARTAN (noun)
  The noun SPARTAN has 1 sense:

1. a resident of Sparta

  Familiarity information: SPARTAN used as a noun is very rare.

• SPARTAN (adjective)
  The adjective SPARTAN has 4 senses:

1. of or relating to or characteristic of Sparta or its people

2. resolute in the face of pain or danger or adversity

3. unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment

4. practicing great self-denial

  Familiarity information: SPARTAN used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPARTAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A resident of Sparta

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("Spartan" is a kind of...):

Greek; Hellene (a native or inhabitant of Greece)

Holonyms ("Spartan" is a member of...):

Sparta (an ancient Greek city famous for military prowess; the dominant city of the Peloponnesus prior to the 4th century BC)

• SPARTAN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to or characteristic of Sparta or its people

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

Sparta (an ancient Greek city famous for military prowess; the dominant city of the Peloponnesus prior to the 4th century BC)

Derivation:

Sparta (an ancient Greek city famous for military prowess; the dominant city of the Peloponnesus prior to the 4th century BC)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Resolute in the face of pain or danger or adversity

Context example:

spartan courage

Similar:

resolute (firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment

Synonyms:

severe; spartan

Context example:

a Spartan upbringing

Similar:

nonindulgent; strict (characterized by strictness, severity, or restraint)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Practicing great self-denial

Synonyms:

ascetic; ascetical; austere; spartan

Context example:

a spartan existence

Similar:

abstemious (sparing in consumption of especially food and drink)

 Context examples 

A helot of Agesilaus made us a dish of Spartan broth, but I was not able to get down a second spoonful.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

In the meantime he worked, taking no recreation except when he went to see Ruth, and living like a Spartan.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

So, with Spartan firmness, the young authoress laid her first-born on her table, and chopped it up as ruthlessly as any ogre.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)