What is "encomiast"

Encomiast \En*co"mi*ast\, n. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to praise, fr. ? encomium: cf. F. encomiaste. See Encomium.] One who praises; a panegyrist.
--Locke.

c.1600, from Greek enkomiastes "one who praises," from enkomiazein, from enkomion (see encomium). Related: Encomiastic (1590s).

n. a person who delivers an encomium or eulogy