hyperborean

1 of 2

noun

hy·​per·​bo·​re·​an ˌhī-pər-ˈbȯr-ē-ən 

-(ˌ)pər-bə-ˈrē-ən

1

often capitalized : a member of a people held by the ancient Greeks to live beyond the north wind in a region of perpetual sunshine

2

: an inhabitant of a cool northern climate

hyperborean

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to an extreme northern region : frozen

2

: of or relating to any of the arctic peoples

Did you know?

Hyperborean Has Roots in Greek Mythology

In ancient Greek mythology, the Hyperboreoi were a people who lived in a northern paradise of perpetual sunshine beyond the reaches of the god of the north wind. Their name located them within the Greek world; it combined the prefix hyper-, meaning "above," and Boreas, the Greek name for the north wind. When hyperborean first appeared in our language in the 15th century, it named those legendary folk. By the late 1500s, though, the word was being used more generally for anything relating to the far north or the people who lived there.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin Hyperborei (plural), from Greek Hyperboreoi, from hyper- + Boreas

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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