PAEAN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does paean mean? 

• PAEAN (noun)
  The noun PAEAN has 2 senses:

1. a formal expression of praise

2. (ancient Greece) a hymn of praise (especially one sung in ancient Greece to invoke or thank a deity)

  Familiarity information: PAEAN used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PAEAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A formal expression of praise

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

encomium; eulogy; paean; panegyric; pean

Hypernyms ("paean" is a kind of...):

congratulations; extolment; kudos; praise (an expression of approval and commendation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(ancient Greece) a hymn of praise (especially one sung in ancient Greece to invoke or thank a deity)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

paean; pean

Hypernyms ("paean" is a kind of...):

anthem; hymn (a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation))

Domain category:

antiquity (the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe)

Domain region:

Ellas; Greece; Hellenic Republic (a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil)

 Context examples 

He trembled at the audacity of his thought; but all his soul was singing, and reason, in a triumphant paean, assured him he was right.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)