ἄθλιος attic contr. of epic ἀέθλιος, see also ἄεθλον, ἆθλον
I.gaining the prize, or running for it (this sense only in epic form) ἵππος ἀεθλίη a race-horse, Theogn.; μῆλον ἀέθλ. the apple of discord, Anth.
II.metaph. struggling, wretched, miserable (this sense only in attic form), of persons Aesch., etc.: comp. -ιώτερος Soph.: Sup. -ιώτατος Eur.:—also of states of life, γάμοι, βίος, τύχη Trag.: —adv. -ίως, miserably, Soph.
2.in moral sense, pitiful, wretched, Dem.