Milesian

1
[ mi-lee-zhuhn, -shuhn, mahy- ]

nounIrish Legend.
  1. any of the people from Spain who invaded Ireland and defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann, and who were the ancestors of the present Irish people.

  2. (sometimes lowercase) an Irishman.

adjective
  1. (sometimes lowercase) Irish.

Origin of Milesian

1
1765–75; Milēsi(us) (Latinization of Irish Miled, legendary Spanish king) + -an

Words Nearby Milesian

Other definitions for Milesian (2 of 2)

Milesian2
[ mi-lee-zhuhn, -shuhn, mahy- ]

adjective
  1. of or relating to Miletus.

  2. Philosophy. noting or pertaining to a school of philosophers of the late 7th to early 5th centuries b.c., including Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, which was primarily concerned with the nature of matter and change.

noun
  1. a native of Miletus.

Origin of Milesian

2
1540–50; <Latin Milēsius inhabitant of Miletus + -an

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How to use Milesian in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Milesian (1 of 2)

Milesian1

/ (maɪˈliːzɪən) /


adjective
  1. of or relating to Miletus

noun
  1. an inhabitant of Miletus

Origin of Milesian

1
via Latin from Greek Milēsios

British Dictionary definitions for Milesian (2 of 2)

Milesian2

/ (maɪˈliːzɪən) facetious /


adjective
  1. Irish

noun
  1. an Irishman

Origin of Milesian

2
C16: from Milesius, a fictitious king of Spain whose sons were supposed to have conquered Ireland

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