Pæ'an, n.

n. [Lat. paean, Gr. παιάν, a religious hymn, originally in honor of Apollo, as a healing deity, Παιάν.] 1. A song of rejoicing, among the ancients, in honor of Apollo; hence, a loud and joyous song; a song of triumph. [Written also pean.] The first persons to sing public paeans of congratulation were the dissenters of Birmingham. De Quincey. 2. See PÆON.