Fenianism

Variant of Fenian

Fenian definition

Fe·nian (fē′nē ən, fēn′yən)

noun

  1. any of a group of legendary military heroes of ancient Ireland
  2. ☆ a member of a secret revolutionary movement formed in New York and Ireland to free Ireland from English rule: the movement was most active in the 1860s and continued until WWI

Etymology: < pl. of Ir Gael Fiann, the old militia of Ireland, after Finn, Fionn, hero of Irish tradition: assoc. with OIr fēne, inhabitant of Ireland

adjective

of the Fenians

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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