an eminent grammarian, born at Cesarea, taught at Constantinople with great reputation about the year 525. Laurentius Valla calls Priscian, Donatus, and Servius, trimviri in re grammatica; and thinks none of the ancients who wrote after them fit to be mentioned with them. He composed a work De arte grammatica, which was first printed by Aldus at Venice in 1476; and another, De naturalibus questionibus, which he dedicated to Chosroes king of Persia: beside which, he translated Dionysius's description of the world into Latin verse. A person who writes false Latin, is proverbially said "to break Priscian's head."