English Explanatory Dictionary

harpy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A mythological creature generally depicted as a bird-of-prey with the head of a maiden, a face pale with hunger and long claws on her hands personifying the destructive power of storm winds.
  2. A shrewish woman.
  3. One who is rapacious or ravenous; an extortioner.
  4. Any of a number of eagle-like birds of prey of the subfamily Harpiinae, especially the species Harpia harpyja.
  5. The European moor buzzard or marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus).

Pronunciation

/ˈhɑɹpi/ /ˈhɑːpi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-harpy.wav

Word forms

harpy harpies

Etymology

Ultimately from Middle French harpie, from Latin harpyia, from Ancient Greek ἅρπυιᾰ (hárpuiă, literally “snatcher”), from ἁρπάζω (harpázō, “to snatch, seize”). Compare rapacious. Middle English had arpie.

Synonyms

battle axe bitch brim brimstone cat crow dragon faggot fishwife harpy harridan hellcat jade nag nudnik scold she-devil shrew termagant virago vixen witch

Related words

harridan

Derived words

harpy bat harpy eagle harpy fly harpyish harpylike
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