Milesian

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

/ mɪˈli ʒən, -ʃən, maɪ- /

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noun Irish Legend.

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.

(sometimes lowercase) an Irishman.

adjective

(sometimes lowercase) Irish.

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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

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Origin of Milesian

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

Words nearby Milesian

milepost, miler, Miles, miles and miles, miles gloriosus, Milesian, miles to go before I sleep, milestone, Miletus, MILF, milfoil

Other definitions for Milesian (2 of 2)

Milesian²

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

/ mɪˈli ʒən, -ʃən, maɪ- /

adjective

of or relating to Miletus.

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

a native of Miletus.

Origin of Milesian

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Milesian in a sentence

Large congregations attend this chapel, and the bulk, as already intimated, are of the Milesian order.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus
Virgil represents the virgins of Cyrene spinning Milesian wool dyed of a deep sea-green.
Needlework As Art|Marian Alford
The contour of his face, as well as the features, is decidedly Milesian.
The History of Burke and Hare|George Mac Gregor
And in the end O'Hara, who was also proud of his Milesian patronymic, was obliged to admit he was right.
Mated from the Morgue|John Augustus O'Shea

The Irish banshee is held to be the distinction only of families of pure Milesian descent.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Milesian (1 of 2)

Milesian¹

/ (maɪˈliːzɪən) /

adjective

of or relating to Miletus

noun

an inhabitant of Miletus

Word Origin for Milesian

via Latin from Greek Milēsios

British Dictionary definitions for Milesian (2 of 2)

Milesian²

/ (maɪˈliːzɪən) facetious /

adjective

Irish

noun

an Irishman

Word Origin for Milesian

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012