lydian

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: Lyd=i=an

CIDE DICTIONARY

lydian, a. [L. Lydius, fr. Lydia, Gr. .].

 Of or pertaining to Lydia, a country of Asia Minor, or to its inhabitants; hence, soft; effeminate; -- said especially of one of the ancient Greek modes or keys, the music in which was of a soft, pathetic, or voluptuous character.  [1913 Webster]
"Softly sweet in Lydian measures,
Soon he soothed his soul to pleasures."  [1913 Webster]

Lydian stone, a flint slate used by the ancients to try gold and silver; a touchstone. See Basanite.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

lydian, adj. & n.
--n.
1 a native or inhabitant of ancient Lydia in W. Asia Minor.
2 the language of this people.
--adj. of or relating to the people of Lydia or their language.

Idiom

Lydian mode Mus. the mode represented by the natural diatonic scale F-F.

Etymology

L Lydius f. Gk Ludios of Lydia