adj
Uncommon
Dorian
DAW-ree-uhn
Dorian (adj) means relating to the Dorians, an ancient Greek people, or to their dialect and culture. Example: “The Dorian invasions reshaped the political map of ancient Greece.”
adj
1
Relating to the Dorians, an ancient Greek people, or to their dialect and culture.
"The Dorian invasions reshaped the political map of ancient Greece."
noun
1
A given name, associated with the Dorians of ancient Greece and popularized by Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray."
"They named their son Dorian after their favorite novel."
How to use Dorian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly encountered today either in music theory (the Dorian mode) or as a given name, tracing back to the ancient Greek Dorian people.
Common pairings
Dorian mode
Dorian invasion
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Dorian.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Dorians
- Comparative
- more Dorian
- Superlative
- most Dorian
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ invasions reshaped the political map of ancient Greece.
Etymology
From the Latin root of Dores, from Ancient Greek Dōrieús ("of Doris"), the mythical homeland of the Dorians.
Rhymes for Dorian
See all rhymes for Dorian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Dorian” mean?
The word “Dorian” means relating to the Dorians, an ancient Greek people, or to their dialect and culture. In plain terms, most commonly encountered today either in music theory (the Dorian mode) or as a given name, tracing back to the ancient Greek Dorian people.
How do you pronounce “Dorian”?
“Dorian” is pronounced DAW-ree-uhn (/ˈdɔːɹiən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Dorian” in a sentence?
Here is “Dorian” used in a sentence: “The Dorian invasions reshaped the political map of ancient Greece.”
What part of speech is “Dorian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Dorian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Dorian” come from?
The word “Dorian” comes from Ancient Greek. From the Latin root of Dores, from Ancient Greek Dōrieús ("of Doris"), the mythical homeland of the Dorians.
Is “Dorian” a common word?
“Dorian” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Dorian” have?
“Dorian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the Dorians, an ancient Greek people, or to their dialect and culture.
