Olympians

Noun (1)

Olympian (plural Olympians)

1. (Greek) Any of the 12 principal gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon (Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Demeter, and Hades); (specifically) preceded by the: Zeus, the supreme ruler of the Greek deities.
   • Pauſanias's account is related pretty faithfully there, if we except two errors, one, that Arcas an Olympian mixed ſome Hippomanes with the brazen ſtatue, the other that he caſt a mare. […] We do not find in the author's Latin, that Arcas the Olympian mixed ſome Hippomanes, &c.1741, [Pierre] Bayle, “A Dissertation Concerning the Hippomanes”, in John Peter Bernard, Thomas Birch, John Lockman, et al., transl., A General Dictionary, Historical and Critical: […], volume X...
2. In the Platonist theology of Plethon, a god in one group of supercelestial gods, the other group of such gods being the Tartareans or Titans.
3. (figuratively) A person with superior talents or towering achievements.

Noun (2)

Olympian (plural Olympians)

1. An inhabitant of the city of Olympia, the capital of Washington, United States.
2. (historical) A sportsperson competing in the ancient Olympic Games.
   • And I haue ſeene thee pauſe, and take thy breath, / When that a ring of Greekes haue ſhruped thee in, / Like an Olympian wraſtling.c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609...
3. A sportsperson competing in the modern Olympic Games.
   • I will forever carry the pride and privilege of representing this amazing country on the grandest global stage. There is so much that comes with that, with being an Olympian. But now, because of Covid-19, some athletes will never get that honour. […] There will be people who were getting the timing...2020 August 28, Steve Solomon, “Covid has stripped Olympic glory from a generation of athletes – that’s heartbreaking”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN...

See all 12 meanings of Olympian