Parnassian

[ pahr-nas-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. pertaining to Mount Parnassus.
2. pertaining to poetry.
3. of, relating to, or noting a school of French poets of the latter half of the 19th century, characterized chiefly by a belief in art for art's sake, by an emphasis on metrical form, and by the repression of emotive elements: so called from Le Parnasse Contemporain, the title of their first collection of poems, published in 1866.

noun

1. a member of the Parnassian school of French poets.

Parnassian

¹

/ pɑːˈnæsɪən /

noun

1. one of a school of French poets of the late 19th century who wrote verse that emphasized metrical form and restricted emotion

adjective

1. of or relating to the Parnassians or their poetry

Parnassian

²

/ pɑːˈnæsɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Mount Parnassus or poetry

Derived Forms

• Parˈnassianˌism, noun

Other Words From

• Par·nassi·an·ism Par·nassism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Parnassian¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin Parnassi(us) “of Parnassus ” + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of Parnassian¹

C19: from French parnassien, from Parnasse Parnassus ; from Le Parnasse contemporain, title of an anthology produced by these poets

Example Sentences

Scudery, brother of the celebrated Mademoiselle Scudery, was a true Parnassian bully.

From Project Gutenberg

But when Pope undertakes to hunt down the vermin of literature, this is no distraction of the Parnassian realm by civil war.

From Project Gutenberg

The god ordered a bushel of his best Parnassian wheat to be carefully winnowed, and he presented the critic with the chaff.

From Project Gutenberg

In Leconte de Lisle the Parnassian movement seems to crystallize.

From Project Gutenberg

The city of Delphi was built upon the lower declivities of the Parnassian ranges, and yet high above the surrounding country.

From Project Gutenberg