See Also: sport(1)(dictionary)
Sport First(dictionary)
SPORT(finance)
sport(2)(dictionary)
Sport(medicine)
contact sport(dictionary)
spectator sport(dictionary)
Sunday Sport, The(dictionary)
sport 1, noun(dictionary)
sport 2, verb(dictionary)

sport(2) (iou)



sport verb. LME.
[Aphet. from DISPORT verb.]
I. With ref. to recreation or amusement.
verb refl. Amuse oneself; have a pleasant time. (Foll. by with a person, an activity, etc.) LME-L18.
a. verb intrans. & (rare) trans. (with it). Amuse or entertain oneself, esp. by outdoor exercise or activity; play a game; frolic, gambol. L15.
E. Waugh Clear air where doves sported with the butterflies. fig.: Pope When Sense subsides, and Fancy sports in sleep.
b. verb intrans. Take part in sport, esp. field sports; hunt or shoot for recreation. L18.
a. verb intrans. & trans. (with it). Make fun of a person or thing; show ridicule. Foll. by at, over, upon (the person or thing). Now rare. M16.
b. verb intrans. Deal with in a light or playful way; trifle or dally with. M17.
C. Reade My misery is too great to be sported with.
verb trans. Provide (a person) with sport or amusement; cheer, enliven. L16-M18.
verb trans.
a. Pass (time) with fun or amusement. Also foll. by away. arch. L16.
b. Play or toy with (something). rare. E18-E19.
verb trans. Foll. by away: remove or waste wantonly or recklessly; squander. Now rare. E18.
verb intrans. & (rare) refl.
a. Of nature: produce abnormal forms as if in sport. Cf. SPORTING noun 2. Only in M18.
E. Bancroft The surrounding forests, where Nature sports in primaeval rudeness.
b. Biology. Of a plant, animal, etc.: deviate or vary abnormally from the parent stock or specific type; exhibit spontaneous mutation. Cf. SPORT noun 5. M18.
G. Gorer A tree..will grow misshapen or sport back to its wild origins if not timely treated.
II.
a. verb trans. Stake (money) on the outcome of a race, game, etc.; bet, wager. E18-M19.
b. verb intrans. Engage in betting; speculate. M18-E19.
c. verb trans. Spend (money) freely, extravagantly, or ostentatiously. rare. M19.
verb trans.
a. Display, exhibit, esp. ostentatiously; display on one's person, wear. E18.
Argosy A handsome..youth who sported a fine moustache. S. Wynter The fireflies hummed and..sported their wings. G. Keillor My dad's car sported a compass on the dashboard. R. Ellmann Wilde sported a new brownish-yellow coat.
b. Set up, keep, maintain, use (a house etc.). Now rare. E19.
verb trans. Shut (a door), esp. from the inside and as a sign that one is busy; shut (a person) in by closing the door. Chiefly Univ. slang. E19.
sport one's oak: see OAK noun 2b.
verb trans. Entertain (a person) with food or drink; treat (a person) to (a drink etc.). rare. E19.
sporta'bility noun (rare) ability to be sportive or playful M18.
sportable adjective able to be sportive: only in M18.
sportance noun (rare) playful, sportive, or frolicsome activity LME.