I.Paean or Paeon, the physician of the gods, Il.; Παιήονος γενέθλη the sons of Paeon, i. e. physicians, Od.
2.after Hom., the name and office were transferred to Apollo, who was invoked by the cry ἰήιε Παιάν Aesch., Soph.; ἰὼ Παιάν Soph.
3.as appellat. a physician, healer, Aesch., Soph.: then, a saviour, deliverer, Eur.
II.παιάν, epic παιήων, a paean, i. e. a choral song, a hymn or chant, addressed to Apollo, Il., Aesch., Soph.
2.a song of triumph after victory, properly to Apollo, Il., Aesch.; also a war-song, Aesch., Xen.:—the phrase was, ἐξάρχειν τὸν παιᾶνα Xen.; π. ἐξάρχεσθαι, ποιεῖσθαι id=Xen.
3.any solemn song or chant, esp. on beginning an undertaking, in omen of success, Thuc.; a song sung at a feast, Xen.
IV.in Prosody, a paeon, a foot consisting of three short and 1 long syll., in any order, Arist.
