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pean

 - 5 dictionary results

pe⋅an

  [pee-uhn]
Use pean in a Sentence
–noun
paean.

pae⋅an

  [pee-uhn]
–noun
1. any song of praise, joy, or triumph.
2. a hymn of invocation or thanksgiving to Apollo or some other ancient Greek deity.
Also, pean.

Origin:
1535–45; < L: religious or festive hymn, special use of Paean appellation of Apollo < Gk Pain physician of the gods

Related forms:
pae⋅an⋅ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pean
pae·an also pe·an   (pē'ən)   
n.  

  1. A song of joyful praise or exultation.

  2. A fervent expression of joy or praise: "The art . . . was a paean to paganism" (Will Durant).

  3. An ancient Greek hymn of thanksgiving or invocation, especially to Apollo.


[Latin paeān, hymn of thanksgiving, often addressed to Apollo, from Greek paiān, from Paiā, a title of Apollo.]
pae'an·is'tic (-ĭs'tĭk) adj.
pe·an   (pē'ən)   
n.  Variant of paean.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

paean 
1592, from L. paean "hymn of deliverance," from Gk. paian "hymn to Apollo," from Paian, a name of the god; originally the physician of the gods (in Homer), later merged with Apollo; lit. "one who touches," from paio "to touch, strike."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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