Pliny

American  

[plin-ee] / ˈplɪn i /

noun

1. the ElderGaius Plinius Secundus, a.d. 23–79, Roman naturalist, encyclopedist, and writer.

2. his nephew (“the Younger,” Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus ) a.d. 62?–c113, Roman writer, statesman, and orator.

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Pliny British  

/ ˈplɪnɪ /

noun

1. known as Pliny the Elder. Latin name Gaius Plinius Secundus. 23–79 _ad , Roman writer, the author of the encyclopedic Natural History (77)

2. his nephew, known as Pliny the Younger. Latin name Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus. ?62–?113 _ad , Roman writer and administrator, noted for his letters

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Other Word Forms

• Plinian adjective

Example Sentences

Craft beer drinkers know Pliny the Elder as the inspiration for his namesake double IPA.

From Los Angeles Times

The 17-year-old Pliny was at Misenum, approximately 18 miles from the volcano, but even there “you could hear the wailing of women, the cries of babies, the shouting of men.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Pliny the Elder judged that the hare “is born to be all creatures’ prey.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Two thousand years ago, the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder described a man named Pomponius who could not belch.

From Salon

For instance, Pliny the Elder, the ancient Roman author and philosopher, developed 27 different medical remedies using onions, ranging from curing bad vision and insomnia, to healing dysentery, mouth sores and toothaches.

From Salon