I. (ˈ)pär|nasēən, (ˈ)pȧ|n-, -syən adjective
Etymology: Latin parnasius, parnassius of or belonging to Parnassus (from Greek parnasios, from Parnasos, Parnassos Parnassus, mountain in central Greece sacred in ancient times to Apollo and the Muses) + English -an
1. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of poetry
newspaper Parnassian columns invited the native muse — H.R.Warfel
2. usually capitalized
[French parnassien, from Parnasse Parnassus (from Latin Parnasus, Parnassus, from Greek Parnasos, Parnassos ) + -ien -an; from the publication in 1866 of an anthology of the work of the Parnassian poets entitled Le Parnasse contemporain ]
: of, having the characteristics of, or constituting a school of French poets of the second half of the 19th century emphasizing metrical form and making little use of emotion as poetic material
the Parnassian movement
Parnassian poets
Parnassian style
— compare romantic
3.
[New Latin Parnassius + International Scientific Vocabulary -an, adjective suffix]
: of or relating to the genus Parnassius
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: parnassian (I)
1. usually capitalized : poet
2. usually capitalized
[French parnassien, from Parnasse Parnassus + -ien -an]
: a poet of the Parnassian school
3.
[New Latin Parnassius + International Scientific Vocabulary -an, n. suffix]
: a butterfly of Parnassius or a related genus