Pythian

[ pith-ee-uhn ]

/ ˈpɪθ i ən /

Save This Word!

adjective

Also Pythic. of or relating to Delphi, in ancient Greece.

of or relating to Apollo, with reference to his oracle at Delphi.

noun

a Pythian priestess.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of Pythian

1590–1600; <Latin Pȳthi(us) (<Greek Pȳ́thios of Delphi and the oracle) + -an

Words nearby Pythian

Pythagorean scale, Pythagorean theorem, Pytheas, Pythia, Pythiad, Pythian, Pythian Games, Pythias, pythogenic, python, Pythonesque

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use Pythian in a sentence

A noble sisterly affection is in Wilhelmina; shrill Pythian vehemence trying the impossible.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XVIII. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
As the time for the Pythian games had now come round, Demetrius took upon himself to make a most startling innovation.
Plutarch's Lives, Volume IV|Aubrey Stewart
Her physicians at last warned her that her health required her to use the Pythian warm baths.
Curiosities of Christian History|Croake James
From time to time he frowned and stared at the ceiling, moving his lips in silent speech like a priest of the Pythian oracle.
Quintus Claudius, Volume 1 of 2|Ernst Eckstein

And lastly there was an order issued to all the Thessalians to be ready for a campaign at the date of the Pythian games.
Hellenica|Xenophon

British Dictionary definitions for Pythian

Pythian

/ (ˈpɪθɪən) /

adjective Also: Pythic

of or relating to Delphi or its oracle

noun

the priestess of Apollo at the oracle of Delphi

an inhabitant of ancient Delphi

Word Origin for Pythian

C16: via Latin Pӯthius from Greek Puthios of Delphi

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