form of -ana (q.v.) with nouns whose adjectival forms end in -ian.
Entries linking to -iana
-ana
or ana, word-forming element denoting "collection of sayings, gossip, etc. connected with a person or place," early 18c., originally the neuter plural ending of Latin adjectives ending in -anus "pertaining to," from PIE adjectival suffix *-no-.
-ian
variant of suffix -an (q.v.), with connective -i-. From Latin -ianus, in which the -i- originally was from the stem of the word being attached but later came to be felt as connective. In Middle English frequently it was -ien, via French.
fistiana n.
"anecdotes of pugilists; boxing lore," 1839, from fist (n.) + -iana.