Adjacent Words

Paean definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PAE'AN
PA'ER-STAINER, n. One that stains, colors or stamps paper for hangings.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a formal expression of praise [syn: encomium, eulogy, panegyric, paean, pean]
2: (ancient Greece) a hymn of praise (especially one sung in ancient Greece to invoke or thank a deity) [syn: paean, pean]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Latin, hymn of thanksgiving especially addressed to Apollo, from Greek paian, pai?n, from Paian, Pai?n, epithet of Apollo in the hymn Date: 1589 1. a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph 2. a work that praises or honors its subject ; encomium, tribute

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (US pean) a song of praise or triumph. Etymology: L f. Doric Gk paian hymn of thanksgiving to Apollo (under the name of Paian)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Paean P[ae]"an (p[=e]`an), n. [L. paean, Gr. paia`n, fr. Paia`n the physician of the gods, later, Apollo. Cf. P[ae]on, Peony.] [Written also pean.] 1. An ancient Greek hymn in honor of Apollo as a healing deity, and, later, a song addressed to other deities. 2. Any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph. --Dryden. ``Public p[ae]ans of congratulation.'' --De Quincey. 3. See P[ae]on.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Paeon P[ae]"on (p[=e]"[o^]n), n. [L. paeon, Gr. paiw`n a solemn song, also, a p[ae]on, equiv. to paia`n. See P[ae]an.] (Anc. Poet.) A foot of four syllables, one long and three short, admitting of four combinations, according to the place of the long syllable. [Written also, less correctly, p[ae]an.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(paeans) A paean is a piece of music, writing, or film that expresses praise, admiration, or happiness. (LITERARY) ...a paean to deep, passionate love. = eulogy N-COUNT: usu N to n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. [Written also Pean.] Triumphal song, jubilation, peanism.

Moby Thesaurus

Agnus Dei, Benedicite, Gloria, Gloria Patri, Gloria in Excelsis, Introit, Magnificat, Miserere, Negro spiritual, Nunc Dimittis, Te Deum, Trisagion, Vedic hymn, accolade, acknowledgment, adulation, alleluia, answer, anthem, antiphon, antiphony, apotheosis, applause, benediction, bepraisement, cantata, canticle, chant, cheer, chorale, chorus of cheers, church music, cognizance, congratulation, credit, crediting, cry, deification, doxology, eloge, encomium, eulogium, eulogy, exaltation, excessive praise, flattery, glorification, glory, gospel, gospel music, grace, hallelujah, hero worship, homage, hommage, honor, hooray, hosanna, hurrah, hurray, huzzah, hymn, hymn of praise, hymn-tune, hymnody, hymnography, hymnology, idolatry, idolizing, introit, kudos, laud, laudation, lionizing, magnification, mantra, mass, meed of praise, motet, offertory, offertory sentence, oratorio, overpraise, panegyric, passion, praise, prayer of thanks, prosodion, psalm, psalmody, rah, recessional, recognition, report, requiem, requiem mass, response, responsory, sacred music, shout, spiritual, thank offering, thank-you, thanks, thanksgiving, tribute, versicle, white spiritual, yell, yippee