▪ I. pæan, n.
(ˈpiːən)
Also 6–7 pean.
[a. L. pæan, a. Gr. παιάν a hymn or chant, properly (see below) one addressed to Apollo invoked under the name Pæan (Παιάν, Attic Παιών, Epic Παιήων), originally the Homeric name of the physician of the gods. The invocation being by the phrase Ἰὼ Παιάν, Io Pæan (see Io1), the song or hymn came itself to be called the pæan.]
1. In reference to Greek Antiq.: A hymn or chant of thanksgiving for deliverance originally addressed to Apollo or Artemis; esp. a song of triumph after victory addressed to Apollo, also a war-song in advancing to battle addressed to Ares; hence any solemn song or chant. The full phrase Io pæan occurs poetically as a n. in same sense.
| 1592 Lyly Midas v. iii, Io paeans let us sing, To physicke's and to poesie's king. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1251 The Poets that composed the songs of victorie, named Pæanes. c 1611 Chapman Iliad i. 457 That day was..spent in pæans to the Sun. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 60/2 The King..himself began the pæan, which was the signal to advance. 1873 Symonds Grk. Poets v. 118 The Paean, sung to Phoebus..was the proper accompaniment of the battle and the feast. 1878 Gladstone Prim. Homer xiii. 151 The triumphal hymn of praise, or paian, is commemorated in the Iliad, as already established in use. |
2. In modern use: A song of praise or thanksgiving; a shout or song of triumph, joy, or exultation.
| [1544 E. Gosynhyll (title) The Prayse of all Women, called Mulierum Pean.] 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie iii. viii. 210 Tut, rather Peans sing Hermaphrodite. 1604 Drayton Owl 1133 The warbling Mavis mirthfull Peans sung. 1646 Buck Rich. III, iii. 78 Who would have sung Peans to his glory. 1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 186 Hear, in all tongues consenting Pæans ring! 1842 Tennyson Two Voices 127, I sung the joyful Pæan clear..Waiting to strive a happy strife. 1869 Ld. Lytton Orval 198 The paean of the people's Liberty! |
| attrib. 1839 Mrs. Hemans Tombs of Platea ix, Where the pæan strains were sung. |
Hence
ˈpæan v. trans., to sing in or as a pæan. So
ˈpæanism [
Gr. παιανισµ-ός], the chanting of the pæan;
ˈpæanize v. intr. [
Gr. παιανίζ-ειν], to chant or sing the pæan.
| 1820 T. Mitchell Aristoph. I. 186 Notes of vict'ry *pæan'd high! |
| 1669 Gale Crt. Gentiles i. ii. iv. 40 For the Victories..Io Pæan was sung to Apollo; at least hence *Pæanismes..had their rise. 1702 C. Mather Magn. Chr. vii. vi. (1852) 579 The Grecian ελελευ Ιου Ιου used in their Pæanisms. a 1827 W. Mitford cited in Cent. Dict., Pæanism. |
| 1628 Hobbes Thucyd. (1822) 123 The Peloponneseans..were *paeanizing as if they had already the victory. |
▪ II. pæan variant of
pæon.