paean

Meaning

Noun

1. (historical) 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.
2. (broadly) Any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph.
3. (broadly) An enthusiastic expression of praise.

Verb

To sing a paean; to praise.

Synonyms

pean

eulogy

hymn

encomium

panegyric

song of triumph

song of praise

hallelujah

praise

rave

tribute

extolment

national anthem

triumphal hymn

oratorio

ovation

Translations

lofzang

loflied

peã

panegírico

Hymne

παιάνας

encomio

éloge

Lobgesang

péan

παιάν

άσμα θριάμβου

ύμνος

panegíric

elogi

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpiː.ən/

Etymology

Cognate with Middle French: -

Cognate with French: paean

Cognate with French: péan

Cognate with Italian: peana

Cognate with Portuguese: peã

In summary

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 paean (also French péan), Italian peana, Portuguese peã, péan.