Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A chant or song, especially a hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance or victory, to Apollo or sometimes another god or goddess; hence any song sung to solicit victory in battle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
Qualifier: Ancient Greece
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An enthusiastic expression of praise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: hymn, encomium, praise, tribute
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To sing a paean; to praise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a formal expression of praise
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: encomium, eulogy, panegyric, pean
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: praise, congratulations, kudos, extolment
noun
(ancient Greece) a hymn of praise (especially one sung in ancient Greece to invoke or thank a deity)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: pean
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hymn, anthem
History
From Latin paeān (“a hymn, especially a victory hymn, to Apollo or another god”), from Ancient Greek παιᾱ́ν (paiā́n, “a chant or song, especially a thanksgiving or victory hymn, to Apollo under the name Παιᾱ́ν (Paiā́n)”), from the phrase Ἰὼ Παιᾱ́ν (Iṑ Paiā́n, “O Paean!, Thanks to Paean!”). According to Homer, Paián or Paean was the name of the physician of the gods; its further etymology is unclear. It has been suggested that Παιᾱ́ν is derived from *παιάϝων (*paiáwōn, “one who heals illnesses through magic”), from *παῖϝα (*paîwa), *παϝία (*pawía, “to blow”), related to παίω (paíō, “to hit, strike”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pēu-, *pyu-, *pū- (“to hit; to cut”)), or from παύω (paúō, “to bring to an end; to abate, to stop”) (from Proto-Indo-European *peh2w- (“few, little; smallness”)), or that it may be a Pre-Greek word. Compare Middle French and French pæan (also French péan), Italian peana, Portuguese peã, péan.
Across languages
44 source translations are retained for this English entry.
