harper
noun
a person who plays the harp.
Showing results for harper.
harper
1 American
[hahr-per]
/ ˈhɑr pər /
Harper
2
American
[hahr-per]
/ ˈhɑr pər /
noun
-
James, 1795–1869, and his brothers John, 1797–1875, (Joseph) Wesley, 1801–70, and Fletcher, 1806–77, U.S. printers and publishers.
-
a male or female given name.
Harper
British
/ ˈhɑːpə /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of harper
before 900; Middle English; Old English hearpere. See harp, -er 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
When they became international stars in the 1970s, the group hired a harper named Derek Bell to play the old O’Carolan tunes, which as a result became part of every Irish band’s repertoire.
From Washington Post ● May 12, 2016
Mead has been spilled on the oak and the king's strong-thewed companions, none over 30, sprawl, snore or listen intently to the end of a long-drawn saga sung by Maccus, the harper.
From Time Magazine Archive
I could no longer pay the cook and the harper, and Lynesse grew wild when I spoke of pawning her jewels.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Only one man in the kingdom seemed cast down: the man who’d been Hrothgar’s harper before the blind man came to make his bid.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
She was the lovely, golden-haired harper who had tried for her talent and failed.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Dave & Buster’s is ramping up its turnaround strategy, which focuses on getting back to its core business, Chief Executive Darin Harper said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
“Obviously, you’re not going to suspend Bobby Witt Jr. from the Royals for two weeks,” Harper told me.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
It takes Bryce Harper about four seconds to run from home plate to first base.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
The Times leads on the fact that killers, including two men convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper, will stay behind bars.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
It had started when Harper and other officers were doing random pat-frisks of inmates headed out the yard door.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
When gloved harpers set those overhead strings vibrating, the Kennedy Center architecture will be reflected in the tone.
From Washington Post ● May 12, 2016
"Your father—" "—will thank me, when I hand him his kingdom. I mean to do a deed that the harpers will sing of for a thousand years."
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
A hundred warriors fully armed shall always await you at call, and harpers shall delight you with their sweet music.
From Old Celtic Romances by Unknown
I wot that none of Alfred’s harpers hath such power of the harp.
From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Lucy Foster Madison
During his long reign of 56 years he offered great encouragement to bards, harpers and minstrels, and framed a code of laws for their better regulation.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
