English Explanatory Dictionary

Xanthippe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An ill-tempered woman.

Pronunciation

/zænˈθɪpi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-Xanthippe.wav

Word forms

Xanthippe Xanthippes Xantippe

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Xanthippē or its etymon Ancient Greek Ξανθίππη (Xanthíppē), the name of Socrates’ wife, from ξανθός (xanthós, “blond; golden, yellow”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱas- (“blond; grey; white”)) + ἵππος (híppos, “horse”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eḱ- (“horse; swift (?)”)). She is described as shrewish in Xenophon’s Symposium, though the same work states that Socrates chose her precisely because of her argumentative spirit. In Xenophon’s Memorabilia and Phaedo by Plato she is depicted as a devoted wife and mother.

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

Derived words

Xanthippean Xanthippic
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