marathon
Pronunciation: /ˈmarəθ(ə)n/
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Definition of marathon
noun
Origin:
late 19th century: from Marathōn in Greece, the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 bc; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (22 miles) with the news. The original account by Herodotus told of the messenger Pheidippides running 150 miles from Athens to Sparta before the battle, seeking help
