sb. and a. Also 5 Spert-, Spartane, 7 Sparton. [ad. L. Spartān-us, f. Sparta (Gr. Σπάρτα, Σπάρτη), the capital of the ancient Doric state of Laconia in the Peloponnesus.]
A. sb. 1. A native or inhabitant of Sparta; a Laconian or Lacedæmonian.
Coverdale (1535) has Sparcians in 1 Macc. xii., xiv.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., IV. 825. Þe Spertanys wiþe outtyn chas Þar fais wyncust in þat plasse.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 127. Ionathas renewede frendeschippe after that with the Romanes and Spartanes.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XV. 680. The fiery Spartan first, with loud Applause, Warms the bold Son of Nestor in his Cause.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch, Pyrrhus, III. 99. He was neither loved nor trusted by the Spartans.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, xv. II. 264. The Persians would not treat them less like brothers than the Spartans.
1845. Maurice, Mor. Philos., in Encycl. Metrop., II. 570/1. Terse sentences, such as the Spartan delighted in.
2. One who resembles the ancient Spartans in character.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, xviii. 194. Here nature’s outrage serves no cause to aid; The ill is felt, but not the Spartan made.
B. adj. 1. Of or pertaining to Sparta or its inhabitants; Laconian, Lacedæmonian.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 28. In weed eke in visage lyke a Spartan virgin in armour.
1611. Chapman, Iliad, III. 43/271. Paris and the Spartan king.
1625. Milton, On Death of Fair Infant, 26. Young Hyacinth the pride of Spartan land. Ibid. (1667), P. L., X. 674. The Spartan Twins [Castor and Pollux].
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, II. xi. 32. With her flowing Tresses ty’d, Careless like a Spartan Bride.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch, I. 144. They asked not of them … troops, but only a Spartan general.’
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 120, note. A word of Spartan origin.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, II. 263. Why should I not play The Spartan Mother with emotion?
b. Spartan dog, etc., a kind of bloodhound. Also fig.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., IV. i. 124. My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kinde. Ibid. (1604), Oth., V. ii. 361. Oh Sparton Dogge: More fell then Anguish, Hunger, or the Sea.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, IV. 187. The force Of Spartan dogs, and swift Massylian horse.
c. Spartan stone, ? Peloponnesian marble.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, June 1645. Adorn’d with porphyrie, ophit, and Spartan stone.
2. Characteristic or typical of Sparta, its inhabitants, or their customs; esp. distinguished by simplicity, frugality, courage, or brevity of speech. (Cf. LACONIC a. 2.)
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 36. To … mollifie the Spartan surlinesse with his smooth songs and odes.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 6, ¶ 6. The Athenians being suddenly touched with a Sense of the Spartan Virtue.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch, Agis, V. 124. He kept close to the Spartan simplicity.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 542. If some Spartan soul a doubt express’d.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., I. iii. 41. A man who could bear personal distress of any kind with Spartan indifference.
1885. Times, 18 Sept., 13/3. The fare is Spartan in its extreme frugality.
1886. Ruskin, Præterita, I. vii. 227. These Spartan brevities of epistle.
Hence Spartanhood, Spartan character or qualities; Spartanic a., = SPARTAN a. 2; Spartanism, discipline, principles or methods resembling those of Sparta; Spartanize v., trans. to render Spartan-like; to imbue with Spartan characteristics; intr. to act like a Spartan; Spartan-like, adv. like a Spartan, bravely; adj. resembling (that of) the Spartans; Spartanly adv., in a Spartan manner; with great endurance, etc.
1880. Miss Broughton, Second Th., I. I. v. 67. She bears it with senseless *Spartanhood for as long as endurance is possible.
1882. Jas. Walker, Jaunt to Auld Reekie, 167. His grace’s phiz *Spartanic vigour shows.
1880. Daily Tel., 19 Feb., 4/8. A mock-heroic and spurious *Spartanism.
1884. Athenæum, 19 July, 79/3. The hardy but squalid Spartanism of our older public schools.
1849. Ainsw. Mag., Dec., 531. Custom and fate may have *Spartanised the feelings of young ladies in garrison.
1875. Browning, Aristoph. Apol., 124. He Spartanizes, argues, fasts and prates, Denies the plainest rules of life.
1883. Ld. Lytton, Life, Lett., etc. Lytton, I. 102. He had high notions of discipline and prerogative, and wished to Spartanise his household.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, IV. xxxvi. 413. Pisander, remaining with his ship to the last, fell, *Spartan-like, sword in hand.
1900. Daily News, 20 Jan., 6/7. A quiet, sorrowful, but Spartanlike resignation.
1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 15 May, 3/1. Hunters have told me how *Spartanly he will take the months of temperate discipline imposed by a hunting expedition.
