Milesian

Borrowed from Middle French Milesien, and its source Latin Mīlēsius, from Ancient Greek Μιλήσιος (Milḗsios).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /mʌɪˈliːzɪən/, /mʌɪˈliːʒ(ə)n/

Milesian (plural Milesians)

1. (historical) a native or inhabitant of the ancient city of Miletus in Asia Minor. [from 16th c.]
2. a follower of the Milesian school of philosophy founded by Thales

Milesian (comparative more Milesian, superlative most Milesian)

1. Pertaining to Miletus or its inhabitants. [from 16th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     I commend the Milesian wench, who seeing Thales the Philosopher continually ammusing himselfe in the contemplation of heavens-wide-bounding vault, and ever holding his eyes aloft, laid something in his way to make him stumble […].

From Latin Milesius, Latinised form of Míl Espáine, a legendary Spanish king whose sons were reputed to have conquered Ireland around 1300 BC.

Milesian (comparative more Milesian, superlative most Milesian)

1. Pertaining to Milesius or his people; Irish.
   • 1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 1:

     My father was the youngest son of a numerous family, all Irish, sprung from a very ancient and honourable stock, being of Milesian descent […] .

   • 1884, M. L. O'Byrne, Ill-won Peerages, Or, An Unhallowed Union, page 427:

     […] exultingly cried Lord Carhampton, stealing an underlook at Maurice O'Driscoll, whom ^[sic] he knew was wont to boast of his Milesian lineage; […]

Milesian (plural Milesians)

1. A member of a people in Irish mythology, the descendants of Míl Espáine.
2. (dated, sometimes humorous) An Irishman; someone of Irish origin.

• Emilians, alienism