Dorian

¹ American  

[dawr-ee-uhn, dohr-] / ˈdɔr i ən, ˈdoʊr- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the ancient Greek region of Doris or to the Dorians.

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noun

1. a member of a people who entered Greece about the 12th century b.c., conquered the Peloponnesus, and destroyed the Mycenaean culture: one of the four main divisions of the prehistoric Greeks.

Dorian ² American  

[dawr-ee-uhn, dohr-] / ˈdɔr i ən, ˈdoʊr- /

noun

1. a male or female given name.

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Dorian British  

/ ˈdɔːrɪən /

noun

1. a member of a Hellenic people who invaded Greece around 1100 _bc , overthrew the Mycenaean civilization, and settled chiefly in the Peloponnese

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adjective

1. of or relating to this people or their dialect of Ancient Greek; Doric

2. music of or relating to a mode represented by the ascending natural diatonic scale from D to D See also Hypo-

Etymology

Origin of Dorian

1595–1605; < Latin Dōri ( us ) (< Greek Dṓrios Dorian) + -an

Example Sentences

The circular concept also works with numbers that loop like time on a clock, explained Dorian Goldfeld, a Columbia University mathematics professor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Dorian Aldegheri will start at tight-head prop with Uini Atonio forced to retire after suffering a heart-attack last week, as Regis Montagne starts on the bench.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

Dorian said island lifestyle was key to the goal of prevention.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

“It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances,” wrote Oscar Wilde in “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2025

You may find it helpful to notice that the "relative major" of the Dorian begins one whole step lower.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones