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Word of the Day — Monday, March 2, 2026

paean

noun/ˈpē-ən/

Definitions

nouna joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph

… unite their voices in a great paean to liberty.

nouna work that praises or honors its subject encomium, tribute

wrote a paean to the queen on her 50th birthday

Examples

  • … unite their voices in a great paean to liberty.
  • wrote a paean to the queen on her 50th birthday

Etymology

Latin, hymn of thanksgiving especially addressed to Apollo, from Greek paian, paiōn, from Paian, Paiōn, epithet of Apollo in the hymn