WORD OF THE DAY: PAEAN
noun|PEE-un
What It Means
Paean is a literary word that refers to a song of joy, praise, or victory. It can also be used as a synonym of tribute for a work that praises or honors its subject.
// Her retirement party featured many paeans for her long years of service to the company.
// Critics considered the movie both a thrilling Western and a paean to the natural beauty of the Rockies.
Examples of PAEAN
“The show is a tender study of people struggling to do right by themselves and others. It’s also a paean to Chicago, my hometown …” — Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2025
Did You Know?
In ancient Greece, Paiā́n (or Paiṓn) was a name used for the god Apollo when in the guise of physician to the gods (Paiā́n/Paiṓn comes from the name of an older Mycenaean healer god). Paiā́n and paiṓn were also used to refer to hymns of thanksgiving and praise sung especially to Apollo, as was their Latin descendant, paean. When paean first appeared in English in the late 16th century, it was used both in the context of Greek history and in general for a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph. Over time, the word became even more generalized, and it is now used for any kind of tribute.
Merriam Webster Dictionary
