plateau 復習
More expected of ill-fated yokozuna
Yokozuna Kisenosato’s decision to retire as a sumo wrestler was met by much regret from many in the sport.
Heralded as the long-awaited Japanese-born yokozuna, Kisenosato has been plagued by the injuries he suffered during the 2017 Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, which he miraculously won. Including that tournament, his first as a yokozuna, the 32-year-old has only participated in all 15 days of a basho twice since ascending to the sport’s highest rank.
The ill-fated sumo wrestler who only lasted two years as a yokozuna was described as “very serious and stoic.”
中略
After that, he seemed to have plateaued, but captured his long-awaited first championship when he was an ozeki at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in 2017.
以下省略
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005483398
plateau /plæˈtou/ を取り上げます。文脈から、成績不振の状態が続く様子を表していると思いました。『ライトハウス英和辞典』（第5版 研究社）で調べると「停滞期に入る」とありました。名詞の場合は「1高原、台地 2（学習、事業などの）停滞期」という意味で用いられます。
LDOCEには “if something plateaus, it reaches and then stays at a particular level” と定義されています。ある一定のレベルに到達した後、そこから伸び悩む様子を表すことがわかります。
語源はOnline Etymology Dictionary によると “from French plateau “table-land”” と説明されています。台地、高原を意味するフランス語からきていることがわかりました。（aqua）
