Word to the Wise: Paean

A "paean" (PEE-un) is a song of praise, joy, or triumph. The word is derived from an ancient Greek hymn of thanksgiving, often addressed to the god Apollo.

Example (as used by Mary Roach in a New York Times review of The Fruit Hunters by Adam Leith Gollner): "The Fruit Hunters is a paean to the overwhelming diversity of fruits on this planet, both botanical and human."

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