Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Lydian
Lyd′i-an
,Adj.
[L.
Lydius
, fr. Lydia
, Gr. [GREEK].] Of or pertaining to Lydia, a country of Asia Minor, or to its inhabitants; hence, soft; effeminate; – said especially of one of the ancient Greek modes or keys, the music in which was of a soft, pathetic, or voluptuous character.
Softly sweet in
Soon he soothed his soul to pleasures.
Lydian
measures,Soon he soothed his soul to pleasures.
Dryden.
Lydian stone
, a flint slate used by the ancients to try gold and silver; a touchstone. See
Basanite
.Webster 1828 Edition
Lydian
LYD'IAN
,Adj.
Noting a kind of soft slow music anciently in vogue.
Lydian stone, flinty slate.
Definition 2025
Lydian
Lydian
English
Noun
Lydian (plural Lydians)
- A native or inhabitant of ancient Lydia.
Translations
native or inhabitant of Lydia
Proper noun
Lydian
- An extinct Indo-European language in the Anatolian subgroup.
Translations
language
Adjective
Lydian (not comparable)
- Pertaining to Lydia, or its people, language or culture.
- (music) Designating a mode of ancient Greek music, reputed to be light and effeminate.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.i:
- And all the while sweet Musicke did diuide / Her looser notes with Lydian harmony [...].
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.i:
Derived terms
- Hypomixolydian
- Mixolydian
Translations
pertaining to Lydia
See also
- Category:Lydian language