Milesian
1 Americannoun
-
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
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
adjective
noun
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of Milesian1
1765–75; Milēsi ( us ) (Latinization of Irish Miled, legendary Spanish king) + -an
Origin of Milesian2
1540–50; < Latin Milēsius inhabitant of Miletus ( def. ) + -an
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Thales and two of his students, Anaximander and Anaximenes, made up the monist Milesian school.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 15, 2022
Mr. Glasper, who supervised the music in Don Cheadle’s brash, kinetic biopic, “Miles Ahead,” has studied Milesian music and attitude closely over the last several years.
From New York Times ● May 25, 2016
And among the parasites these men are commemorated by name: Tithymallus, who is mentioned by Alexis in his Milesian Woman, and in his Ulysses the Weaver.
From The Deipnosophists, or Banquet of the Learned of Athen?us by Athen?us
And in the end O'Hara, who was also proud of his Milesian patronymic, was obliged to admit he was right.
From Mated from the Morgue A tale of the Second Empire by John Augustus O'Shea
The companion of his watch was a worthy Milesian gentleman named Dan.
From The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry With Legends of the Surrounding Country by Joseph Barry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.