Word Study
olympian
CIDE DICTIONARY
olympian, a. [L. Olympius, Olympicus, Gr. 'Oly`mpios, 'Olympiko`s, fr. 'O`lympos: cf. F. olympique. See Olympiad.].
Of or pertaining to Olympus, a mountain of Thessaly, fabled as the seat of the gods, or to Olympia, a small plain in Elis. [1913 Webster]
- A god who dwells on Olympus. [PJC]
- An inhabitant of Olympia. [PJC]
- An athlete who competes in the Olympics. [PJC]
Pertaining to, characteristic of, or fitting for one of the gods on Olympus; grand, majestic, or aloof. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
olympian, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 a of or associated with Mount Olympus in NE Greece, traditionally the home of the Greek gods. b celestial, godlike.
2 (of manners etc.) magnificent, condescending, superior.
3 a of or relating to ancient Olympia in S. Greece. b = OLYMPIC.
--n.
1 any of the pantheon of twelve gods regarded as living on Olympus.
2 a person of great attainments or of superhuman calm and detachment.
--adj.
1 a of or associated with Mount Olympus in NE Greece, traditionally the home of the Greek gods. b celestial, godlike.
2 (of manners etc.) magnificent, condescending, superior.
3 a of or relating to ancient Olympia in S. Greece. b = OLYMPIC.
--n.
1 any of the pantheon of twelve gods regarded as living on Olympus.
2 a person of great attainments or of superhuman calm and detachment.
Etymology
L Olympus or Olympia: see OLYMPIC
DEVIL DICTIONARY
olympian
adj. Relating to a mountain in Thessaly, once inhabited by gods, now a repository of yellowing newspapers, beer bottles and mutilated sardine cans, attesting the presence of the tourist and his appetite.
His name the smirking tourist scrawls
Upon Minerva's temple walls,
Where thundered once Olympian Zeus,
And marks his appetite's abuse.
Averil Joop
THESAURUS
olympian
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