Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Subscribe

Archives



May 10, 2023
This week’s theme
Eponyms

This week’s words
Vulcan
Taylorism
Palladian
gomer
alexander

A sculpture of Athena in front of the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna
A sculpture of Athena in front of the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna
Photo: Gryffindor / Wikimedia

palladian
Andrea Palladio
Art: Alessandro Maganza (1556-1630)

Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

Palladian

PRONUNCIATION:
(puh-LAY-dee-uhn)

MEANING:
adjective:
1. Wise or learned.
2. Relating to wisdom, knowledge, or learning.
3. Of or relating to the classical architectural style of Andrea Palladio.

ETYMOLOGY:
For 1 & 2: After Athena (also known as Pallas Athena), a goddess of wisdom in Greek mythology. Her name has also resulted in other words such as palladium and athenaeum. Earliest documented use: 1562.

For 3: After Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), Venetian architect. Earliest documented use: 1731.

USAGE:
“From under the cloak’s hood, an errant strand of bronze hair dangled across her Palladian face.”
Jonathan Malone; Invictus; 2020.

“The Palladian mansion was three stories tall, constructed of gray stone, and had so many windows that Sophie suspected the duke paid a fortune in window taxes.”
Maya Rodale; Groom of One’s Own; Avon; 2010.

See more usage examples of Palladian in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The softer you sing, the louder you're heard. -Donovan, musician (b. 10 May 1946)

What they say

“Anu Garg triggers the kind of passionate reaction that actors, authors and memoirists would die for.”
Read more

USA Today


More articles

Anu Garg on words

“Overall, the universe’s apostrophe store stays in balance. It seems our linguistic world was intelligently designed -- for every gratuitous apostrophe there’s an instance where it’s omitted.”

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith