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Hyperborean Has Roots in Greek Mythology
In ancient Greek mythology, the Hyperboreoi were a people who lived in a northern paradise of perpetual sunshine beyond the reaches of the god of the north wind. Their name located them within the Greek world; it combined the prefix hyper-, meaning "above," and Boreas, the Greek name for the north wind. When hyperborean first appeared in our language in the 15th century, it named those legendary folk. By the late 1500s, though, the word was being used more generally for anything relating to the far north or the people who lived there.
Cite this Entry
“Hyperborean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperborean. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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