A.winning the prize or running for it (this sense only in Ep. form ἀέθλιος, q.v.).
II. metaph., struggling, unhappy, wretched, miserable (this sense only in Att. form ἄθλιος), freq. of persons, A.Th.922, etc.: Comp. “-ιώτερος” S.OT815,1204: Sup. “-ιώτατος” E.Ph.1679:—also of states of life, “ἄ. γάμοι” A.Th.779; βίος, τύχη, E.Heracl.878, Hec.425:—of that which causes wretchedness, “ἆρ᾽ ἄθλιον τοὔνειδος” ; S.OC753, cf. El.1140; “πρόσοψις” E.Or.952. Adv., “τὸν ἀθλίως θανόντα” S.Ant.26, cf. E.HF707, etc.