Where does “paean” come from?
Paean derives from Latin paean, from Ancient Greek παιάν, from the proper noun Παιάν (Paian, a healing deity), ultimately from Ancient Greek παίω meaning to strike or hit, descended from Proto-Indo-European pū-.
paean (English): A chant or song, especially a hymn of...
Definitions
- A chant or song, especially a hymn of...
Ancestry of “paean”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | paeān | paean, specifically |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | παιᾱ́ν | chant, song of praise; a chant or song,... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | παίω | I strike, hit; I strike against or upon; I devour |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | *p(y)eh₂w- | — |