Parthian en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈpɑɹθiən/ (US)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈpɑːθɪən/ (UK)
Etymology
From Parthia + -an; in the sense of delivered as if in retreat, an allusion to the Parthian battle tactic of firing arrows backwards from horseback while apparently in retreat.
Meanings
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(not-comparable) Relating to Parthia or Parthians.
1911, Babylonia and Assyria: Modern Discovery, article in Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Midway in the mound is a platform of large bricks stamped with the names of Sargon of Akkad and his son Naram-Sin (3800 B.C.); as the débris above them is 34 ft. thick, the topmost stratum being not later than the Parthian era (H. V. Hilprecht, The Babylonian Expedition, i. 2, p. 23), it is calculated that the débris underneath the pavement, 30 ft. thick, must represent a period of about 3000 years, more especially as older constructions had to be levelled before the pavement was laid.
1828, Frederic Shoberl, Persia, Part 4, Chapter XII: Amusements and Exercises, The king’s cavalry are also trained to an exercise called the keykaj, which consists in turning about on the saddle at full speed and firing a carbine backward. This they learn from their childhood, and it gives them great confidence and dexterity on horseback. It is probably a remnant of the old Parthian custom so frequently alluded to in ancient authors; with this difference, that fire-arms are now used instead of bows and arrows.
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(not-comparable) Delivered as if in retreat.
So that poor Brunout has nothing for it but to retreat with accelerated nimbleness, through rank after rank; Parthian-like, fencing as he flies
1837, Thomas Carlyle, chapter VII, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume I (The Bastille), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, book VII (The Insurrection of Women), page 266:a Parthian shot
Finally the blue dells and gorges of a wooded mountain, for two hours our landmark, rose between us and the sun. But the sun’s Parthian arrows gave him a splendid triumph, more signal for its evanescence. A storm was inevitable, and sunset prepared a reconciling pageant.
1863, Theodore Winthrop, Life in the Open Air, Chapter I:She was tired of dancing; it was getting very late; she must go to mamma;—and, without another word, she sprang away from Harry Foker’s arm, and seized upon Pen’s, who was swaggering about the dancing-room, and again said, “Mamma, mamma!—take me to mamma, dear, Mr. Pendennis!” transfixing Harry with a Parthian shot, as she fled from him.
1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter VII, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume II, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 69:With which Parthian shot he walked away, leaving the two rivals open-mouthed behind him.
1887, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “A Study in Scarlet”, in Beeton’s Christmas Annual, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward, Lock & Co., part I (Being a reprint from the reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D., […]), chapter III (John Ferrier Talks with the Prophet), page 24:
Deriveds
Parthian Empire · Parthian shot
Translations (21)
hi पहलू (relating to Parthia) · cop ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲟⲥ (relating to Parthia) · sa पह्लव (relating to Parthia) · ka პართიული (relating to Parthia) · xcl պահլաւիկ (relating to Parthia) · sv parthisk (relating to Parthia) · ga Pairtiach (relating to Parthia) · fr parthe (relating to Parthia) · xcl պահլաւ (relating to Parthia) · pl partyjski (relating to Parthia) · ru парфянский (relating to Parthia) · ca part (relating to Parthia) · hy պարթևական (relating to Parthia) · de parthisch (relating to Parthia) · ka პართული (relating to Parthia) · xcl պարթեւական (relating to Parthia) · sv partisk (relating to Parthia) · hi पह्लव (relating to Parthia) · es parto (relating to Parthia) · ar فَرْثِيّ (relating to Parthia) · hi पहलवी (relating to Parthia)