Harpy meaning

här'pē
One of several loathsome, voracious monsters with the head and trunk of a woman and the tail, wings, and talons of a bird.
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A predatory person.
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A shrewish woman.
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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.
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A relentless, greedy, or grasping person.
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A shrewish woman.
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A fabulous winged monster, ravenous and filthy, having the face of a woman and the body of a vulture.
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A shrewish woman.

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One who is rapacious or ravenous; an extortioner.
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The European moor buzzard or marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus).
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A large and powerful double-crested, short-winged American eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia).
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Origin of harpy

French harpie, Latin harpyia, from Ancient Greek Αρπυια (Arpuia) "to snatch, to seize". Compare rapacious.

Sentence Examples

  • The precise affinities of the harpy cannot be said to have been determined.

  • On the so-called Harpy monument from Lycia, now in the British Museum, the Harpies appear carrying off some small figures, supposed to be the daughters of Pandareus, unless they are intended to represent departed souls.

  • 197); by the harpy Podarge he was also the father of Xanthus and Balius, the horses of Achilles.

  • Though known since the middle of the 17th century, its habits have come very little under the notice of naturalists, and what is said of them by the older writers must be received with some Harpy.

  • The sea-horse and the Siren alone are commonly found as charms; the Siren being sometimes in her fishtail form and sometimes in the form of a harpy.

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Words near harpy in the Dictionary