hyperborean

English

Alternative forms

• Hyperborean

Etymology

From Late Latin hyperboreanus, cognate with Classical Latin hyperboreus, from Ancient Greek ὑπερβόρεος (huperbóreos), composed of ὑπέρ (hupér, “over”) + βόρειος (bóreios, “northern”). See also Ὑπερβόρεοι (Huperbóreoi).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /hʌɪ.pəˈbɔː.ɹɪən/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌhaɪ.pɚˈboɹ.i.jɪn/

Noun

hyperborean (plural hyperboreans)

1. (Greek mythology, usually capitalised) One of a race of people living in the extreme north, beyond the north wind.

   The Hyperboreans venerated Apollo over the other gods.

2. (usually humorous) Any person living in a northern country, or to the north.

Translations

(Greek mythology), one a race of people living in the extreme north

• French: Hyperboréen (fr) m
• Greek:

  Ancient Greek: Ὑπερβόρεοι m pl (Huperbóreoi)

• Hindi: हाइपरबोरियन (hāiparboriyan)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: hyperboreer m

• Portuguese: hiperbóreo (pt) m
• Swedish: hyperboré (sv) c

Adjective

hyperborean (comparative more hyperborean, superlative most hyperborean)

1. Pertaining to the extreme north of the earth; or (usually humorous) to a specific northern country or area.
   • 1633, C. Butler, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

     The hyperborean or frozen sea.

   • 1730, James Thomson, “Autumn. Inscribed to the Right Honourable Arthur Onslow, Esq; Speaker of the House of Commons.”, in The Seasons, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 167, lines 857–859:

     Hovv, by the fineſt art, the native robe / To vveave; hovv, vvhite as hyperborean ſnovv, / To form the lucid lavvn; […]

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

     You could have knelt down, damn it, Kinch, when your dying mother asked you, Buck Mulligan said. I’m hyperborean as much as you. But to think of your mother begging you with her last breath to kneel down and pray for her. And you refused.

Translations

pertaining to the extreme north of the Earth

• Bulgarian: северен (bg) (severen)
• French: hyperboréen (fr) m
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: hyperboreisk

  Nynorsk: please add this translation if you can

• Portuguese: hiperbóreo (pt)
• Swedish: hyperboreisk