slan

See also: Appendix:Variations of "slan"

English

Etymology

From Slan (1940) by A. E. van Vogt, a science fiction novel about persecuted—yet physically, mentally and morally superior—telepathic mutant humans. In the novel they are named after their alleged creator, Samuel Lann.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /slæn/
• Rhymes: -æn

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

Noun

slan (plural slans)

1. (dated, fandom slang) A fan of science fiction.
   • 1944, John Bristol Speer, “F - Fascism”, in Fancyclopedia‎^[1]:

     The idea of a national government, covering all the slan race and nobody else, is seen in the many drives for a general fan organization.

   • 1950 September, Charles Stuart Metchette, “Michigan Memories”, in Spacewarp‎^[2], number 42, pages 72–77:

     Here, at least once a month, the slans from Michigan gathered for sneak previews of forthcoming WARPS, to criticise some Rappian manuscript which Art was polishing for pro submission, or to talk about various subjects as fans are wont to do, and drink beer, pop, consume beans, dogs, chips, or eclairs.

   • 1955, Arthur Koestler, The Trail of the Dinosaur and Other Essays, page 143:

     Fen gather in clubhouses called slanshacks, "slan" meaning a biologically mutated superman.

Derived terms

• fans are slans
• slan center
• slanhood
• slannish
• slanshack

Related terms

• Homo superior

References

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007), “slan”, in Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, pages 187–8.
• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2025), “slan n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.

Anagrams

• SALN, LANs, LNAs

Old Dutch

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *slahan.

Verb

slān

1. to hit, to beat

Conjugation

Conjugation of slān (strong class 6 irregular, Verner alternation)

infinitive	slān
indicative	present	past
1st person singular	slā, slān	sluog
2nd person singular	slās, slāst	sluogi, sluogis
3rd person singular	slāt	sluog
1st person plural	slān	sluogun
2nd person plural	slāt	sluogut
3rd person plural	slānt	sluogun
subjunctive	present	past
1st person singular	slā	sluogi
2nd person singular	slās, slāst	sluogi, sluogis
3rd person singular	slā	sluogi
1st person plural	slān	sluogin
2nd person plural	slāt	sluogit
3rd person plural	slān	sluogin
imperative	present
singular	slā
plural	slāt
participle	present	past
	slāndi	gislān, gislagan

Derived terms

• avaslān

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: slâen
  • Dutch: slaan, slagen
    • Afrikaans: slaan, slaag
  • Limburgish: slaon

Further reading

• “slān”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Old English

Noun

slān

1. inflection of slāh:
   1. accusative/genitive/dative singular
   2. nominative/accusative plural

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *solnъ. Compare sȏl.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /slâːn/
• Rhymes: -âːn

Adjective

slȃn (Cyrillic spelling сла̑н, definite slȃnī, comparative slànijī)

1. salty, saline

Declension

positive indefinite forms

singular		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative		slan	slana	slano
genitive		slana	slane	slana
dative		slanu	slanoj	slanu
accusative	inanimate animate	slan slana	slanu	slano
vocative		slan	slana	slano
locative		slanu	slanoj	slanu
instrumental		slanim	slanom	slanim
plural		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative		slani	slane	slana
genitive		slanih	slanih	slanih
dative		slanim(a)	slanim(a)	slanim(a)
accusative		slane	slane	slana
vocative		slani	slane	slana
locative		slanim(a)	slanim(a)	slanim(a)
instrumental		slanim(a)	slanim(a)	slanim(a)

positive definite forms

singular		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative		slani	slana	slano
genitive		slanog(a)	slane	slanog(a)
dative		slanom(u/e)	slanoj	slanom(u/e)
accusative	inanimate animate	slani slanog(a)	slanu	slano
vocative		slani	slana	slano
locative		slanom(e/u)	slanoj	slanom(e/u)
instrumental		slanim	slanom	slanim
plural		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative		slani	slane	slana
genitive		slanih	slanih	slanih
dative		slanim(a)	slanim(a)	slanim(a)
accusative		slane	slane	slana
vocative		slani	slane	slana
locative		slanim(a)	slanim(a)	slanim(a)
instrumental		slanim(a)	slanim(a)	slanim(a)

comparative forms

singular		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative		slaniji	slanija	slanije
genitive		slanijeg(a)	slanije	slanijeg(a)
dative		slanijem(u)	slanijoj	slanijem(u)
accusative	inanimate animate	slaniji slanijeg(a)	slaniju	slanije
vocative		slaniji	slanija	slanije
locative		slanijem(u)	slanijoj	slanijem(u)
instrumental		slanijim	slanijom	slanijim
plural		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative		slaniji	slanije	slanija
genitive		slanijih	slanijih	slanijih
dative		slanijim(a)	slanijim(a)	slanijim(a)
accusative		slanije	slanije	slanija
vocative		slaniji	slanije	slanija
locative		slanijim(a)	slanijim(a)	slanijim(a)
instrumental		slanijim(a)	slanijim(a)	slanijim(a)

superlative forms

singular		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative		najslaniji	najslanija	najslanije
genitive		najslanijeg(a)	najslanije	najslanijeg(a)
dative		najslanijem(u)	najslanijoj	najslanijem(u)
accusative	inanimate animate	najslaniji najslanijeg(a)	najslaniju	najslanije
vocative		najslaniji	najslanija	najslanije
locative		najslanijem(u)	najslanijoj	najslanijem(u)
instrumental		najslanijim	najslanijom	najslanijim
plural		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative		najslaniji	najslanije	najslanija
genitive		najslanijih	najslanijih	najslanijih
dative		najslanijim(a)	najslanijim(a)	najslanijim(a)
accusative		najslanije	najslanije	najslanija
vocative		najslaniji	najslanije	najslanija
locative		najslanijim(a)	najslanijim(a)	najslanijim(a)
instrumental		najslanijim(a)	najslanijim(a)	najslanijim(a)

Further reading

• “slan”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2025

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Participle

slan (Cyrillic spelling слан)

1. masculine singular passive past participle of slati

Slovene

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *solnъ, probably originally a past passive participle meaning "(having been) salted".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sláːn/

Adjective

slȃn (comparative bȍlj slȃn, superlative nȁjbolj slȃn)

1. salt, salty

Declension

The diacritics used in this section of the entry are non-tonal. If you are a native tonal speaker, please help by adding the tonal marks.

Hard
	masculine	feminine	neuter
nom. sing.	slán	slána	sláno
singular
	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	slán ind sláni def	slána	sláno
genitive	slánega	sláne	slánega
dative	slánemu	sláni	slánemu
accusative	nominativeinan or genitiveanim	sláno	sláno
locative	slánem	sláni	slánem
instrumental	slánim	sláno	slánim
dual
	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	slána	sláni	sláni
genitive	slánih	slánih	slánih
dative	slánima	slánima	slánima
accusative	slána	sláni	sláni
locative	slánih	slánih	slánih
instrumental	slánima	slánima	slánima
plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	sláni	sláne	slána
genitive	slánih	slánih	slánih
dative	slánim	slánim	slánim
accusative	sláne	sláne	slána
locative	slánih	slánih	slánih
instrumental	slánimi	slánimi	slánimi

This adjective needs an inflection-table template.

Further reading

• “slan”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU (in Slovene), 2014–2025

Swedish

Noun

slan n

1. (slang, derogatory) someone lazy, slow (and slovenly)

Declension

Declension of slan

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	slan	slans
	definite	slanet	slanets
plural	indefinite	slan	slans
	definite	slanen	slanens

References

• Slangopedia