παιάν

English (LSJ)

παιᾶνος, ὁ, Epic παιήων, Attic, Ionic παιών, paean, i.e. choral song, addressed to Apollo or Artemis (the burden being ἰὴ or ἰὼ Παιάν, v. supr. 1.2), in thanksgiving for deliverance from evil, μολπῇ θεὸν ἱλάσκοντο, καλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα Il. 1.473; Κρητῶν παιήονες h.Ap. 518; παιᾶν' ἐπευφήμησεν A. Fr. 350.4, cf. B. 15.8, Procl. ap. Phot. Bibl. p. 320 B.; hence opp. θρῆνοι, A. Ch. 343 (anap.), cf. Sch. Ar. Pl. 636 (but v. infr. 4); addressed to other gods, as to Poseidon after an earthquake, X. HG 4.7.4.
song of triumph after victory, prop. to Apollo, Il. 22.391 sq.; ἁλώσιμος π. A. Th. 635, etc.; also, battle-song, παιᾶν' ἐφύμνουν σεμνὸν Ἕλληνες Id. Pers. 393, cf. Lys. 2.38, X. Cyr. 4.1.6; addressed to Ares, Sch. Th. 1.50; ἐξάρχειν τὸν π. or τοῦ παιᾶνος, X. Cyr. 3.3.58, Plu. Rom. 16; π. ποιεῖσθαι X. HG 7.4.36.
any solemn song or chant, esp. on beginning an undertaking, Th. 7.75 (pl.); π. γαμήλιος Ar. Th. 1035 (lyr.); τριτόσπονδος π. A. Ag. 247 (lyr.); ἔγχει κἀπιβόα τρίτον παιῶνα Pherecr. 131.5, cf. Antiph. 4, 85.5. by oxymoron, π. Ἐρινύων, π. τοῦ θανόντος, A. Ag. 645, Ch. 151; π. στυγνός, of a dirge, E. Tr. 126 (lyr.); παιᾶνα στενάζειν ib. 577; π. τῷ κάτωθεν θεῷ Id. Alc. 424. in Prosody, paeon, a foot consisting of 3 short and 1 long syllable, – ◡ ◡ ◡, ◡ – ◡ ◡, ◡ ◡ – ◡ or ◡ ◡ ◡ –, Arist. Rh. 1409a2 (in form παιάν; later παιών), Heph. 3.3, etc.; also π. διάγυιος, the foot, and π. ἐπιβατός, a foot of 5 long sylls., Aristid.Quint. 1.16. — Attic form; Παιών is used of the god in IG1². 310.229 (v BC), and in codd. of Attic Prose and Com.; παιάν is used of the song in IG2². 1338.19 (i BC), but this may be Hellenistic; codd. have παιών in Pherecr. 131.5, Ar. Th. 1035, Pl. Ion 534d, Lg. 700b, 700d, Epic 348b (prob. also in Smp. 177a), παιάν in Antiph. 4, D. 19.338, Aeschin. 2.162, and freq. in X., HG ll. cc., al. (cf. παιωνίζω); the metrical foot is always παιών; the Ionic forms are παιών, Παιών, SIG 57.12 (Milet., v BC), GDIiv p. 884 (Erythrae, iv BC); — Accentuation; Παιών (the pr. n.) An.Ox. 1.276; παιών (the song) Theognost. Can. 38, Eust. 138.10, 1109.11, Suid.; παίων is sometimes found in codd., and Παίων (the god) is right acc. to Suid. Cf. παιανίζω, παιανισμός, παιωνίζω, παιωνισμός.

Wikipedia EN

A paean (/ˈpiːən/) is a song or lyric poem expressing triumph or thanksgiving. In classical antiquity, it is usually performed by a chorus, but some examples seem intended for an individual voice (monody). It comes from the Greek παιάν (also παιήων or παιών), "song of triumph, any solemn song or chant". "Paeon" was also the name of a divine physician and an epithet ("byname") of Apollo.

The basis of the word παιάν is *παιάϝων." Its ultimate etymology is unclear. R. S. P. Beekes has suggested the meaning "who heals illnesses through magic", from *παῖϝα/*παϝία "blow", related to παίω "beat" (from Proto-Indo-European *ph2u-ie/o-) or παύω "withhold" (of uncertain etymology). He alternatively suggested that paian "may well be Pre-Greek".

In Homer, Paeon was the Greek physician of the gods. In Iliad V he heals the wounded Ares and Hades with his herbal lore. In time Paeon (or Paean) became an epithet ("byname") of Apollo as a god capable of bringing disease and propitiated as a god of healing. Hesiod identifies Paeon as a separate god, and in later poetry Paeon is invoked independently as a health god. Later, Paean becomes a byname of Asclepius, another healer-god.

The earliest appearances of a paean or hymn of thanksgiving also appear in the Iliad. After the prayer to avert evil from the Achaeans, a paean is sung. In an almost identical line (X.391) that suggests a formulaic expression, Achilles tells the Myrmidons to sing the paean after the death of Hector.

To discover the relation between Paean or Paeon, the healer-god, and paean in the sense of "song", it is necessary to identify the connection between ritual chant and the shaman's healing arts.

Previously, L. R. Farnell had referred to the ancient association between the healing craft and the singing of spells, but found it impossible to decide which was the original sense. At all events the meaning of "healer" gradually gave place to that of "hymn", from the phrase "Ἰὴ Παιάν" or "Ἰὼ Παιάν".

Such songs were originally addressed to Apollo, and afterwards to other gods, like Dionysus, Helios, and Asclepius. About the 4th century the paean became merely a formula of adulation; its object was either to implore protection against disease and misfortune, or to offer thanks after such protection had been rendered. Its connection with Apollo as the slayer of the Python led to its association with battle and victory; hence it became the custom for a paean to be sung by an army on the march and before entering into battle, when a fleet left the harbour, and also after a victory had been won.

The Greek poet Aeschylus who took part in the Battle of Salamis, commented on the power of the paean over enemies (in this case the Persians):

All the barbarians felt fear because they had been deprived of what they expected. The Greeks were singing the stately paean at that time not for flight, but because they were hastening into battle and were stout of heart. A paean was sung before the resuming of the naval battle between the Corcyraeans and Corinthians in a war leading up to the Peloponnesian War, implying that it might have been a common practice. In addition, the paean is said to have been sung just before the start of various battles (including the Battle of Cunaxa) in Xenophon's "Anabasis" (or "Persian Expedition").

German (Pape)

[Seite 438] ᾶνος, ὁ, u. ion. u. ep. παιήων (s. nom. pr.), – 1) ein feierlicher, vielstimmiger, an den Apollo gerichteter Gesang, eigtl. den Gott zur Abwendung einer von ihm verhängten Seuche zu bewegen, wie Il. 1, 473, καλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα, wo es schon einige alte Erkl. als nom. pr. nehmen wollten; vgl. Soph. O. R. 5, πόλις δ' ὁμοῦ μὲν θυμιαμάτων γέμει, ὁμοῦ δὲ παιάνων τε καὶ στεναγμάτων, u. ib. 187, παιὰν δὲ λάμπει στονόεσσά τε γῆρυς ὅμαυλος; aber auch ein freudiger Lobgesang auf Apollo, nachdem die Seuche oder übb. das Unglück (vgl. Schol. Ar. Plut. 636) aufgehört hat, παιᾶνα, παιᾶν' ἀνάγετε, Tr. 209; übh. Dank, Loblied, z. B. nach vollbrachter Kriegsthat, ἀείδοντες παιήονα, Il. 22, 391, wo in den folgenden Versen der Inhalt des Gesanges angegeben ist; so Aesch. ἁλώσιμον παιᾶν' ἐπεξιακχάσας, Spt. 617, der Lobgesang auf die Einnahme der Stadt; παιᾶν' ἐφύμνουν σεμνὸν Ἕλληνες τότε, Pers. 385, vgl. Ag. 631 Ch. 149; παιὰν καὶ σάλπιγγες ἐκελάδουν, Eur. Phoen. 1109, öfter; auch Loblied auf andere Götter, ὕμνησαν τὸν περὶ τὸν Ποσειδῶ παιᾶνα, nach dem Aufhören des Erdbebens, Xen. Xell. 4, 7, 4. Nach Schol. Thuc. 1, 50 u. 4, 43 wurde vor der Schlacht ein solcher Päan an den Ares, nach der Schlacht an den Apollo gerichtet; Xen. Hell. 7, 4, 36 heißt es σπονδὰς καὶ παιᾶνας ὡς εἰρήνης γεγενημένης ἐποιοῦντο; öfter in der Cyr. Schlachtgesang; ἐπινικίου παιᾶνος ἐξάρχων, Plut. Rom. 16; auch ἐξῆρχεν ἐμβατηρίου παιᾶνος, Lyc. 22; – Κρητῶν παιήονες, H. h. Apoll. 518, Päanensänger bei den Kretern. – 2) wie Apollo der helfende Gott ist, so wird παιάν allgemein auch für Helfer, Retter, Befreier von irgend einem Uebel gebraucht, καί μοι θάνατος παιὰν ἔλθοι, Eur. Hipp. 1373; vgl. Aesch. frg. 229. – 3) παιών, der Versfuß, Arist. rhet. 3, 8.

French (Bailly abrégé)

ᾶνος (ὁ) :
I. péan, chant solennel à plusieurs voix, surtout en l'honneur d'Apollon, qqf d'autres divinités :
1 chant de plainte, chant pour demander le salut et la délivrance;
2 cantique funèbre;
3 chant de combat;
4 chant de joie, chant de fête, chant d'allégresse;
II. péan, pied de trois brèves et une longue diversement combinées.
Étymologie: cf. Παίαν.

Russian (Dvoretsky)

παιάν: ᾶνος, эп. παιήων, ονος, дор. παίαων, ονος, атт. παιών, ῶνος ὁ
1 пэан (хоровой гимн, благодарственный, победный, военный, умилостивительный или скорбный, преимущ. в честь Аполлона, реже Артемиды и других): παιᾶνα ποιεῖσθαι Xen. петь пэан; ἐξάρχειν παιᾶνος ἐπινικίου Plut. запеть пэан в честь победы; π. τοῦ θανόντος Aesch. погребальный пэан;
2 (поздн. παιών) пэан (стихотворная стопа из трех кратких слогов и одного долгого: ‒∪∪∪, ∪‒∪∪, ∪∪‒∪ или ∪∪∪‒).

Frisk Etymological English

-ᾶνος
Grammatical information: m.
Meaning: name of a hail-song and hymn, esp. for Apollo, paean; also personified as divine physician (Hom.), later surn. of Apollo, appellat. physician, saviour; also name of a verse-foot (Arist., Heph.).
Other forms: παιήων, -ονος (Il.). παιών, -ῶνος (IA.; cf. Wackernagel Glotta 14, 61ff. = Kl. Schr. 2, 869 ff.), πάων, -ονος (Aeol.); παιάν, -ᾶνος (Dor., trag., hell.).
Dialectal forms: Myc. pajawone (dat.) /Paiawonei/, Ruijgh Minos 9(1968)119.
Derivatives: 1. παιών-ιος belonging to paean, healing, saving (A., S., Ar.), f. -ιάς (AP), -ίς (S. E.); also -ία f. surn. of Athena (Paus.), appellat. plantname peony (Thphr., Ps.-Dsc.; Strömberg 99); παιαν-ίδες pl. adjunct of ἀοιδαί (Pi.); Παιηόν-ιος = Παιώνιος (APl.); παιαν-ίας m. paean-singer (Sparta). 2. παιων-ικός = παιώνιος (Plu., Gal.), παιαν-ικός paean-like (Ath.). 3. παιηοσύνη ἰατρεία H. 4. παιων-ίζω (IA.), -αν-ίζω (Dor.) to strike up a paean, to worship with a p. with -ισμός m. (Th., Str., D. H.), -ισταί m. pl. guild of the paean-singers (Rome, Piräus, II--IIIp). On the unclear Att. name of a deme Παιανία Wackernagel l.c.
Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]
Etymology: Probably disjoined from the exclamation ἰη παιήων, ἰὼ παιάν (as initial of a song), first as appellative, basis *παιά-(Ϝ)ων like Ιά(Ϝ)ονες, κοινά(Ϝ)ων (s. Ἴωνες a. κοινός w. lit.), but further unclear. After Schwyzer IF 30, 445 f. to παίω beat through *παῖϜα, *παϜία blow as "who heals illnesses through magic (Apollon)". Also to παίω, but with different (less probable) argumentation Diehl RhM 89, 90 a. 109 ff. Diff. (to παύω) Pisani Rend. Acc. Lincei 6:5, 208. -- The similarity with the peoples name Παίονες may be not accidental (Macurdy Glotta 6, 297ff. Tribal god of the P.; thus Kretschmer Glotta 21, 176f.). - The word may well be of Pre-Greek origin; cf. Ruijgh l.c.

Frisk Etymology German

παιάν: -ᾶνος (dor., Trag., hell.),
{paián}
Forms: παιήων, -ονος (ep. seit Il.). παιών, -ῶνος (ion. att.; vgl. Wackernagel Glotta 14, 61ff. = Kl. Schr. 2, 869 ff.), πάων, -ονος (äol.)
Grammar: m.
Meaning: Bez. eines Heil- und Lobgesangs, vorw. an Apollon, "Päan", auch personifiziert als Götterarzt (Hom.), später Bein. des Apollon, appellat. Arzt, Heiland; auch N. eines Versfußes (Arist., Heph. u.a.).
Derivative: Davon 1. παιώνιος zum Päan gehörig, heilend, rettend (A., S., Ar. u.a.), f. -ιάς (AP), -ίς (S. E.); auch -ία f. Bein. d. Athena (Paus.), appellat. Pflanzenname Pfingstrose (Thphr., Ps.-Dsk.; Strömberg 99); παιανίδες pl. Beiw. von ἀοιδαί (Pi.); Παιηόνιος = Παιώνιος (APl.); παιανίας m. Päansinger (Sparta). 2. παιωνικός = παιώνιος (Plu., Gal. u.a.), παιανικός päanähnlich (Ath.). 3. παιηοσύνη· ἰατρεία H. 4. παιωνίζω (ion. att.), -ανίζω (dor.) ‘einen Päan anstimmen, mit einem P. ehren’ mit -ισμός m. (Th., Str., D. H.), -ισταίm. pl. Gilde der Päansinger (Rom, Piräus, II—III^p). Zum unklaren att. Demosnamen Παιανία Wackernagel a. O.
Etymology: Wahrscheinlich aus dem Ausruf ἰὴ παιήων, ἰὼ παιάν (als Anfang eines Gesangs) ausgelöst, zunächst als Appellativ, Grundform *παιά-(ϝ)ων wie Ιά(ϝ)ονες, κοινά(ϝ)ων (s. Ἴωνες u. κοινός m. Lit.), aber sonst dunkel. Nach Schwyzer IF 30, 445 f. zu παίω schlagen über *παῖϝα, *παϝίᾶ Schlag als "der die Krankheiten dutch Zauberschlag heilende (Apollon)". Ebenso zu παίω, aber mit anderer (unwahrscheinlicher) Begründung Diehl RhM 89, 90 u. 109 ff. Anders (zu παύω) Pisani Rend. Acc. Lincei 6:5, 208. — Die Ähnlichkeit mit dem VN Παίoνες ist vielleicht nicht zufällig (nach Macurdy Glotta 6, 297ff. Stammgott der P.; dazu Kretschmer Glotta 21, 176f.).
Page 2,460-461

English (Woodhouse)

paean, cry of triumph, hymn of praise, hymn of thanksgiving, hymn of victory, shout of triumph, song of triumph, song of victory

Mantoulidis Etymological

-ᾶνος ἐπικ. παιηών, ἀττ. παιών -ῶνος (=γιατρός, πολεμικό τραγούδι). Ἔχει σχέση μέ τό παίω (=χτυπῶ). Γιά παράγωγα δές στό ρῆμα παιανίζω.

Translations

bg: пеан; cs: paján; de: Paian; el: παιάνας; en: paean; eo: peano; es: peán; fi: paiaani; fr: péan; hy: պեան; id: paian; it: peana; ja: ピーアン; lt: peanas; no: paean; pl: pean; pt: peã; ru: пеан; sv: paian; uk: пеан