Timæan

Timæan is an adjective and noun derived from the proper name Timaios (Greek: Τῖμαιος). The form Timæan, with the ligature æ, reflects older transliteration conventions of Greek. In English-language scholarship, Timæan is usually encountered in discussions that trace back to Plato's Timaeus or to figures named Timaios.

In philosophy and classical studies, Timæan is used to describe things related to the dialogue Timaeus of Plato, its cosmology, or its author. A Timæan cosmology refers to Plato's account of the creation of the universe, including the formation of the elements by a craftsman (the Demiurge) and the projection of a rational order onto matter. The word can also describe interpretations, translations, or critiques that align with or reference the Timæan framework.

In modern usage, Timæan is less common than the variant Timaean or Timaeian, which are preferred in many scholarly texts. Timæan typically appears in editions or discussions that preserve classical spellings or in historical compendia.

See also: Plato's Timaeus, Timaios, Timaean cosmology.