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Glite Dictionary
📜 Epic poems 🎶 A Gaelic poet 👦 A male name 🏙️ A place name
Ossian

Ossian

9.9
A legendary Gaelic poet said to have written old epic poems
  • proper noun
  • /ˈɔːʃən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Ossian
  • During the 18th century, Ossian became a symbol of Scottish nationalism.
  • Ossian wrote
  • Ossian's harp
  • Ossian and Alpin

Examples

  • Once home, Klopstock continued to view Ossian as the forefather of German literature.

    Academic text (1998)

  • At no time in history did Denmark look to Ossian as an embodiment of national history.

    Academic text (1998)

  • But when we open the works of Ossian, a very different scene presents itself.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The reception of the Ossian theme has become an increasingly discussed topic.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Surprisingly, no detailed study of the reception of Ossian in Denmark has appeared as of yet.

    Academic text (1998)

  • In fact, the zenith of Denmark's brief interest in Ossian had well passed.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Although he drew extensively on classical themes, his preoccupation with Ossian was especially keen.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Today, Gade's Efterklange af Ossian is the most popular of his many compositions.

    Academic text (1998)

  • As Blair's commentary illustrates, the Poems of Ossian did not present a flattering image of the ancient Danes.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Not until 1790-91 did the first complete Danish translation, Ossians Digte oversatte af de Engelske ved Andreas Christian Alstrup.

    Academic text (1998)

Surface Forms

Ossian main

Etymology

Ossian is the name of a legendary Gaelic bard and it comes from the old Gaelic name Oisín, meaning 'little deer'. James Macpherson made poems about him famous in the 18th century, which is why people think of Ossian as a poet from legend.