Milesian

[ mi-lee-zhuh n, -shuh n, mahy- ]

/ mɪˈli ʒən, -ʃən, maɪ- /

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.

Origin of Milesian

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

Definition for milesian (2 of 2)

Milesian²

[ mi-lee-zhuh n, -shuh n, 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for milesian

Confident in the strength of his brawny arm, the young Milesian evinced no scruples.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 370, August 1846|Various
Virgil represents the virgins of Cyrene spinning Milesian wool dyed of a deep sea-green.
Needlework As Art|Marian Alford
"No, no, I have a plan," shouted Theopompus the Milesian merchant.
An Egyptian Princess, Complete|Georg Ebers
What think you of their thin-spun systems of philosophy, or lascivious poems, or Milesian fables?
Dialogues of the Dead|Lord Lyttelton

At about six bells in the forenoon watch the Milesian began to show more sign of animation than before.
Asiatic Breezes|Oliver Optic

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