harpy Hear it!

harpy Definition

harpy (här′pē)

noun pl. -·pies

  1. Gr. Myth. any of several hideous, filthy, rapacious winged monsters with the head and trunk of a woman and the tail, legs, and talons of a bird
  2. a relentless, greedy, or grasping person
  3. a shrewish woman
  4. harpy eagle

Etymology: MFr harpie < L harpyia < Gr harpyiai, pl., lit., snatchers < harpazein, to snatch < IE *serp- < base *ser-, sickle, curved hook > L sarpere, to prune

harpy Synonyms

harpy

n.

  1. A shrewish woman

    shrew, virago, nag, Xanthippe; see hag, woman 1.

  2. A greedy person

    swindler, shark, loan shark, Shylock.

harpy Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • have: The first season we have sea serpents; we have an avalanche of rocks that reconfigures into a rock giant; we have harpies.

Adjective modifier

  • mythical: Harpies by David Belbin On holiday on a Greek island, Cassie becomes pre-occupied by the mythical harpies.

Modifies a noun

  • eagle: Wildlife abounds as jaguars still roam, wooly and spider monkeys still swing through the trees, and harpy eagles patrol the canopy.

Browse dictionary entries near harpy

  1. ‹ harpsichord
  2. ‹ harpoon
  3. ‹ harpist
  4. ‹ Harpers Ferry
  5. ‹ harp seal
  6. ‹ harp on
  7. ‹ harp
  8. ‹ Harold
  9. ‹ harness race
  10. ‹ harness hitch
  1. harpy eagle ›
  2. harquebus ›
  3. harridan ›
  4. harrier ›
  5. Harriet ›
  6. Harriman ›
  7. Harris ›
  8. Harris tweed ›
  9. Harrisburg ›
  10. Harrison ›