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paean Definition

paean (ən)

noun

  1. in ancient Greece, a hymn of thanksgiving to the gods, esp. to Apollo
  2. a song of joy, triumph, praise, etc.

Etymology: L < Gr paian, hymn < Paian, the healing one, epithet of Apollo < paiein, to strike, touch < ? IE base *pēu- > pave

paean Synonyms

paean

n.

paean Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • praise: What is unusual is to find a paean of praise on the stone.
  • love: He is also aware that the play is more than a simple paean of romantic love.

Adjective modifier

  • great: The epic of Gilgamesh - the oldest surviving epic poem and greatest paean to friendship in literature containing the pre-biblical sources of The Flood.
  • endless: And that's just the Christians, let alone reggae's endless paeans to Jah, or Muslim rappers ' shout outs to Allah.
  • enthusiastic: Indeed, todayâs Daily Telegraph contains as equally an enthusiastic paean to the book by Lady Antonia Fraser.
  • heartbreaking: Other songs like opener ' Rain Fall Down ' and set closer ' On My Own ' are heartbreaking paeans to loneliness.
  • witty: It is nearly 20 years since Bill Bryson first penned his deliciously witty paean to precision Troublesome Words.

Browse dictionary entries near paean

  1. Padus
  2. paduasoy
  3. Padua
  4. padrone
  5. padre
  6. Padova
  7. padlock
  8. padishah
  9. Paderewski
  10. Paderborn
  1. paedo-
  2. paedogenesis
  3. paella
  4. paeon
  5. paesano
  6. Paestum
  7. pagan
  8. Paganini
  9. paganism
  10. paganize