aeolian - definition, synonyms and pronunciation

Open English WordNet

Noun (2)

a member of one of four linguistic divisions of the prehistoric Greeks, spoken in Boethia, Thessaly, in the Aegean island of Lesbos, and the Greek colonies of Asia MinorSynonyms: EolianType of Greek, Hellene
the ancient Greek inhabitants of AeoliaType of citizenry, people

Adjective (2)

of or pertaining to Aeolus, the Greek god of the winds; relating to or caused by the windRelating to Aeolus
of or relating to Aeolis or its ancient Greek peopleRelating to Aeolia

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Æ·o′li·an (…), adjective

Origin: L. Aeolius, Gr. ….

1. Of or pertaining to Æolia or Æolis, in Asia Minor, colonized by the Greeks, or to its inhabitants; æolic; as, the Æolian dialect.

2. Pertaining to Æolus, the mythic god of the winds; aërial.

Viewless forms the æolian organ play.— Thomas Campbell

3. Relating to or caused by wind; as, aeolian erosion.

Æolian attachment, a contrivance often attached to a pianoforte, which prolongs the vibrations, increases the volume of sound, etc., by forcing a stream of air upon the strings. Thomas Moore — Æolian harp, Æolian lyre, a musical instrument consisting of a box, on or in which are stretched strings, on which the wind acts to produce the notes; — usually placed at an open window. Thomas Moore — Æolian mode Music, one of the ancient Greek and early ecclesiastical modes.

Aeolian noun

1. 1 a member of one of the four divisions of the prehistoric Greeks. Syn. — Eolian

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: WordNet 1.5