Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

French ''amateur''- [[Latin]] ''amātōr''-''em'' , n. of [[agent]]  ''amā-re'' to [[love]].  

French ''amateur''- [[Latin]] ''amātōr''-''em'' , n. of [[agent]]  ''amā-re'' to [[love]].  

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1777 18th_century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1777 18th_century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: devotee, admirer

*1: devotee, admirer

*3: one lacking in [[experience]] and competence in an [[art]] or [[science]]

*3: one lacking in [[experience]] and competence in an [[art]] or [[science]]

==Description==

==Description==

An '''amateur''' (French ''amateur'' "lover of", from Old French and ultimately from [[Latin]] ''amatorem nom''. ''amator'', "lover") is generally [[considered]] a person attached to a particular pursuit, [[study]], or [[science]], without pay and often without [[formal]] [[training]]. Amateurism can be seen in both a [[negative]] and [[positive]] light. Since amateurs often do not have [[formal]] [[training]], some amateur work may be sub-par. For example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_sports amateur athletes] in sports such as basketball, baseball or football are regarded as having a lower level of [[ability]] than [[professional]] [[athletes]]. On the other hand, an amateur may be in a position to approach a subject with an open [[mind]] (as a result of the lack of [[formal]] [[training]]) and in a financially disinterested [[manner]]. An amateur who dabbles in a field out of [[casual]] interest rather than as a [[profession]] or serious interest, or who [[possesses]] a general but [[superficial]] interest in any art or a branch of [[knowledge]], is often referred to as a dilettante.

An '''amateur''' (French ''amateur'' "lover of", from Old French and ultimately from [[Latin]] ''amatorem nom''. ''amator'', "lover") is generally [[considered]] a person attached to a particular pursuit, [[study]], or [[science]], without pay and often without [[formal]] [[training]]. Amateurism can be seen in both a [[negative]] and [[positive]] light. Since amateurs often do not have [[formal]] [[training]], some amateur work may be sub-par. For example, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_sports amateur athletes] in sports such as basketball, baseball or football are regarded as having a lower level of [[ability]] than [[professional]] [[athletes]]. On the other hand, an amateur may be in a position to approach a subject with an open [[mind]] (as a result of the lack of [[formal]] [[training]]) and in a financially disinterested [[manner]]. An amateur who dabbles in a field out of [[casual]] interest rather than as a [[profession]] or serious interest, or who [[possesses]] a general but [[superficial]] interest in any art or a branch of [[knowledge]], is often referred to as a dilettante.

The lack of financial benefit can also be seen as a sign of [[commitment]] to an [[activity]]; and until the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970's 1970s] the Olympic rules required that competitors be amateurs. Receiving payment to [[participate]] in an [[event]] disqualified an [[athlete]] from that event, as in the case of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe Jim Thorpe]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympics Olympics], this rule remains in place for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing boxing].

The lack of financial benefit can also be seen as a sign of [[commitment]] to an [[activity]]; and until the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970's 1970s] the Olympic rules required that competitors be amateurs. Receiving payment to [[participate]] in an [[event]] disqualified an [[athlete]] from that event, as in the case of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe Jim Thorpe]. In the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympics Olympics], this rule remains in place for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing boxing].

Many amateurs make valuable contributions in the field of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_programming computer programming] through the [[open source]] movement. Amateur dramatics is the [[performance]] of [[plays]] or musical theater, often to high [[standards]], but lacking the budgets of [[professional]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_theatre West End] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_theatre Broadway] performances. [[Astronomy]], [[history]], [[linguistics]], and the [[natural sciences]] are among the myriad fields that have benefited from the [[activities]] of amateurs. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Charles Darwin] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregor_Mendel Gregor Mendel] were amateur scientists who never held a position in their field of study.

Many amateurs make valuable contributions in the field of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_programming computer programming] through the [[open source]] movement. Amateur dramatics is the [[performance]] of [[plays]] or musical theater, often to high [[standards]], but lacking the budgets of [[professional]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_theatre West End] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_theatre Broadway] performances. [[Astronomy]], [[history]], [[linguistics]], and the [[natural sciences]] are among the myriad fields that have benefited from the [[activities]] of amateurs. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Charles Darwin] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregor_Mendel Gregor Mendel] were amateur scientists who never held a position in their field of study.

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]