paean

Meanings

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.
• Any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph.
• An enthusiastic expression of praise.

Verb

• To sing a paean; to praise.

Origin

• , from the phrase Ἰὼ Παιᾱ́ν. 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 is derived from *παιάϝων, from *παῖϝα, *παϝία, related to παίω (from Proto-Indo-European *pēu-, *pyu-, *pū-), or from παύω (from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w-), or that it may be a Pre-Greek word.
• Compare Middle French and French paean (also French péan), Italian peana, Portuguese peã, péan.