diana
n. countablen. the Roman goddess of the moon and hunting. In space science, the name is also used for a specific crater on the moon.
n. the ancient Roman deity associated with the moon, hunting, and nature, often identified with the Greek goddess Artemis. In an astronomical context, it refers to a small impact crater on the Moon.
Diana is often shown with a bow and arrow.
The museum features a marble statue of Diana, the goddess of the hunt, standing with a deer.
In classical literature, Diana represents both the untamed wilderness and the silver light of the moon, serving as a frequent subject for Renaissance painters and poets alike.
Borrowed from Late Latin Diāna, short form of Latin Dīāna, derived by syncope from Old Latin Dīvāna, equivalent to dīvus + -āna; roughly akin to Proto-Italic deiwā (“goddess”) + Proto-Indo-European -néh₂. Originally an Old Italic divinity of light and the moon; later identified as the Roman counterpart to Greek goddess Artemis. Cognate of Attic Greek Διώνη (Diṓnē), similarly syncopated from older Ancient Greek Διϝωνη (Diwōnē), whence via Latin Diōne is derived English Dione used in various ways across astronomy, chemistry, biology, and as a given name. From the same root Proto-Indo-European *dyúh₃onh₂- also potentially cognate to English June via Latin Jūnō.
Usually treated as a proper noun and capitalized; when used as a common noun to describe a representation of the goddess, it is countable.