Zenonian, adj.¹ & n.¹

zenonian
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zenonian_adj1%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# Zenonianadjective1 & noun1

## Earlier version

- Zenonian, a. and n. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the word Zenonian mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word Zenonian. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the word Zenonian?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750 | 0.002
1760 | 0.0027
1770 | 0.0023
1780 | 0.0021
1790 | 0.0021
1800 | 0.0025
1810 | 0.0027
1820 | 0.0024
1830 | 0.0017
1840 | 0.0022
1850 | 0.0024
1860 | 0.0024
1870 | 0.0025
1880 | 0.0027
1890 | 0.0028
1900 | 0.0033
1910 | 0.0029
1920 | 0.0034
1930 | 0.0035
1940 | 0.0036
1950 | 0.0037
1960 | 0.004
1970 | 0.0039
1980 | 0.0042
1990 | 0.004
2000 | 0.0039
2010 | 0.0039

### How is the word Zenonian pronounced?

#### British English

/zᵻˈnəʊniən/
zuh-NOH-nee-uhn

#### U.S. English

/zəˈnoʊniən/
zuh-NOH-nee-uhn

### Where does the word Zenonian come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1600s

The earliest known use of the word Zenonian is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zenonian is from 1654, in Memorials Life & Death H. Grotius.

From a proper name, combined with an English element.

Etymons: proper name Zēnōn, Zēnō, Ζήνων, ‑ian suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. Zen-like, adj. a1908–
2. Zen master, n. 1907–
3. Zenned-out, adj. 1968–
4. Zennist, adj. & n. 1904–
5. zeno-, comb. form
6. zenocentric, adj. 1911–
7. Zenocratically, adv. 1588
8. zenographic, adj. 1853–
9. zenographical, adj. 1853–
10. zenography, n. 1890–
11. Zenonian, adj.¹ & n.¹1654–
12. Zenonian, adj.² 1756–
13. Zenonian, adj.³ & n.² 1837–
14. Zenonic, adj.¹ 1779–
15. Zenonic, adj.² 1827–
16. Zenonism, n.¹ 1789–
17. Zenonism, n.² 1935–
18. zenzi-, comb. form
19. zenzic, n. & adj. 1557–71
20. zenzicube, adj. & n. 1557–1690
21. zenzicubic, adj. 1557–71

## Etymology

### Summary

From a proper name, combined with an English element.
Etymons: proper name Zēnōn, Zēnō, Ζήνων, ‑ian suffix.
< classical Latin Zēnōn (also Zēnō) or its etymon ancient Greek Ζήνων, the name of the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium + ‑ian suffix, after e.g. Platonian n., Platonian adj.

Compare later Zenonic adj.2, Zenonism n.1…
< classical Latin Zēnōn (also Zēnō) or its etymon ancient Greek Ζήνων, the name of the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium + ‑ian suffix, after e.g. Platonian n., Platonian adj.

Compare later Zenonic adj.2, Zenonism n.1

### Notes

Compare Middle French, French Zénonien (1555 or earlier as noun, 1568 or earlier as adjective). Compare Hellenistic Greek Ζηνώνειος (adjective) of or relating to Zeno, (noun) Stoic philosopher.

## Meaning & use

1. adjective
   1. 1654–
      Of or relating to Zeno of Citium (335–263 b.c.), or to the Stoic school of philosophy of which he was the founder. Cf. stoic n. A.1.
      1. 1654

         > That Zenonian Sect will hardly yield to moderate sentences in these matters.

         Memorials Life & Death H. Grotius in C. Barksdale, translation of H. Grotius, Of Law of Warre & Peace sig. Xx 8v
      2. 1678

         > Even the Zenonian and Heraclitick Deity it self, was no other than such a Plastick Nature or Spermatick Principle in the Universe.

         R. Cudworth, True Intellectual System of Universe i. iii. 133
      3. 1694

         > Utrum, An Historical Grammar, and Posteriority, by the triad of Articles, might find some Line or Character of their Chronicle on the Zenonian Palm [French palme Zenonique].

         P. A. Motteux, translation of F. Rabelais, 5th Book of Works 255
      4. 1828

         > According to Cicero, there was little originality in the Zenonian system.

         New Monthly Magazine vol. 22 285
      5. 1872

         > His attributed taciturnity is but a zenonian virtue.

         Little Rock (Arkansas) Daily Republican 24 December
      6. 1903

         > The splendour of the Zenonian stoicism.

         H. Morselli, Suicide vi. 296
      7. 1961

         > Plato..differed from Zenonian Stoics.

         Journal of History of Ideas vol. 22 5
      8. 2006

         > The beginning and ending of Cicero's list of Zenonian wisdom focus on the Stoic sage's rejection of forgiveness and flexibility.

         Rev. of Politics vol. 68 218
      philosophy
      1. stoical?a1475–
         Of or belonging to the Stoics; characteristic of the Stoic philosophy.
      2. Senecal 1602–
         Characteristic of, or conformable to the principles of the Stoic philosopher L. Annæus Seneca (died a.d. 65). Also as n.: a writer of drama in the…
      3. stoic 1607–
         Of or belonging to the school of the Stoics or to its system of philosophy.
      4. Zenonian 1654–
         Of or relating to Zeno of Citium (335–263 b.c.), or to the Stoic school of philosophy of which he was the founder. Cf. stoic, n. A.1.
      5. Zenonic 1827–
         Of or relating to Zeno of Citium (335–265 b.c.), or his philosophical ideas; Stoic. Cf. Zenonian, adj.¹
      6. philosophico-juristic a1866–
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. noun
   1. 1656–
      A follower or student of Zeno of Citium; a Stoic.
      1. 1656

         > Hither resorted a great many Disciples to him, who were at first called Zenonians, as Epicure affirmeth, from their Master.

         T. Stanley, History of Philosophy vol. II. viii. iii. 3
      2. 1785

         > I am no friend to the stoics, or as we call them the Zenonians.

         R. Cumberland, Observer viii. 61
      3. 1843

         > They [sc. Stoics] were at first called Zenonians from the name of their master.

         Penny Cyclopaedia vol. XXVII. 769/1
      4. 1953

         > One cannot help wondering how the Zenonians carried on.

         Phoenix vol. 7 33
      5. 2013

         > At first they were called Zenonians, but soon became known as Stoics.

         M. A. Soupios, Greeks who made us who we Are iv. 88
      philosophy
      1. Stoician c1374–1814
         = stoic, n. A.1.
      2. stoic c1384–
         (With capital initial.) One of a school of Greek philosophers (founded by Zeno, fl. 300 b.c.), characterized by the austerity of its ethical…
      3. portic 1630–1751
         Ancient Greek Philosophy. Any of the Stoic philosophers who met in the colonnade in the agora of ancient Athens; (also) the school of Stoic…
      4. Zenonian 1656–
         A follower or student of Zeno of Citium; a Stoic.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zᵻˈnəʊniən/
zuh-NOH-nee-uhn

### U.S. English

/zəˈnoʊniən/
zuh-NOH-nee-uhn

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Frequency

Zenonian typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

Zenonian is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of Zenonian, adj.¹ & n.¹, 1750–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1750 | 0.002
1760 | 0.0027
1770 | 0.0023
1780 | 0.0021
1790 | 0.0021
1800 | 0.0025
1810 | 0.0027
1820 | 0.0024
1830 | 0.0017
1840 | 0.0022
1850 | 0.0024
1860 | 0.0024
1870 | 0.0025
1880 | 0.0027
1890 | 0.0028
1900 | 0.0033
1910 | 0.0029
1920 | 0.0034
1930 | 0.0035
1940 | 0.0036
1950 | 0.0037
1960 | 0.004
1970 | 0.0039
1980 | 0.0042
1990 | 0.004
2000 | 0.0039
2010 | 0.0039

Zenonian, adj.¹ & n.¹ was revised in June 2018.

Zenonian, adj.¹ & n.¹ was last modified in July 2023.