Search the Dictionary

Of or pertaining to Athens, the metropolis of Greece. -- n. A native or citizen of Athens.

Of or pertaining to Aristophanes, the Athenian comic poet.

or to Athens, its principal city; marked by such qualities as were characteristic of the Athenians; classical; refined. Attic base (Arch.), a peculiar form of molded base for a column or pilaster, described by Vitruvius, applied under the Roman Empire to the Ionic and Corinthian and "Roman Doric" orders, and imitated…

A favoring of, or attachment to, the Athenians.

To side with the Athenians.

-- commonly in the plural. This title was assumed by the ancient Greeks, particularly the Athenians.

Of or pertaining to Calippus, an Athenian astronomer. Calippic period, a period of seventy-six years, proposed by Calippus, as an improvement on the Metonic cycle, since the 6940 days of the Metonic cycle exceeded 19 years by about a quarter of a day, and exceeded 235 lunations by something more.

Relating to Draco, the Athenian lawgiver; or to the constellation Draco; or to dragon's blood.

The public legislative assembly of the Athenians.

ith, to become reconciled to or on friendly terms with. "Having now made friends with the Athenians." Jowett (Thucyd. ).

An Athenian officer who superintended the gymnasia, and provided the oil and other necessaries at his own expense.

rship on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies. The Athenians believed that he who was initiated and instructed in the mysteries would obtain celestial honor after death. Bp. Warburton. He was initiated into half a dozen clubs before he was one and twenty. Spectator.…

rights of another or others; iniquity; wrong; unfairness; imposition. If this people [the Athenians] resembled Nero in their extravagance, much more did they resemble and even exceed him in cruelty and injustice. Burke.

erpolated, you may see by the vast difference of all copies and editions. Bp. Barlow. The Athenians were put in possession of Salamis by another law, which was cited by Solon, or, as some think, interpolated by him for that purpose. Pope.

inguished from new Ionic, or Attic, the dialect of all cultivated Greeks in the period of Athenian prosperity and glory. -- Ionic foot. (Pros.) See Ionic, n., 1. -- Ionic, or Ionian, mode (Mus.), an ancient mode, supposed to correspond with the modern major scale of C. -- Ionic sect, a sect of philosophers founded b…

To make or enact a law or laws. Solon, in legislating for the Athenians, had an idea of a more perfect constitution than he gave them. Bp. Watson (1805).

Pertaining to, or discovered by, Meton, the Athenian. Metonic cycle or year. (Astron.) See under Cycle.

-- in a good sense. [Obs.] God's disciple and his dearest minion. Sylvester. Is this the Athenian minion whom the world Voiced so regardfully Shak.

s assembly; a disorderly crowd. The mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease. Pope. Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob. Madison. Confused by brainless mobs. Tennyson. Mob law, law administered by the mob; lynch law. -- Swell mob, well dressed thieves and swindle…

Any law, which, after it had passed the Athenian senate, was fixed on a tablet for public inspection previously to its being proposed to the general assembly of the people.