Par*nas"sian (?), n. [F. parnassien.] One of a school of French poets of the Second Empire (1852-70) who emphasized metrical form and made the little use of emotion as poetic material; -- so called from the name (Parnasse contemporain) of the volume in which their first poems were collected in 1866.

Par*nas"sian (?), a. [L. Parnassius.] Of or pertaining to Parnassus.

Par*nas"sian, n. [See Parnassus.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of butterflies belonging to the genus Parnassius. They inhabit the mountains, both in the Old World and in America.

Par*nas"sian (?), n. [F. parnassien.] One of a school of French poets of the Second Empire (1852-70) who emphasized metrical form and made the little use of emotion as poetic material; -- so called from the name (Parnasse contemporain) of the volume in which their first poems were collected in 1866.