harper
noun
a person who plays the harp.
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
They burnt the great thighbones and feasted at their ease on fresh roast meat, as in their midst the godlike harper sang— Demodokos, honored by all that realm.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
Arya made faces across the table when no one was looking,- Sansa listened raptly while the king's high harper sang songs of chivalry, and Rickon kept asking why Jon wasn't with them.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
The harper gave him back some answer, and Hrothgar spoke again.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
Harper said the family will travel to Creeslough on Wednesday to remember their daughter and the other victims.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Reports soon surfaced that Schmitt’s general counsel Ethan Harper, who stood behind him holding the infamous poster, saw his potential White House staff position being placed into immediate jeopardy.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
Praying for a rain delay, I found myself innings deep into “Team Moms: Baseball” before realizing that, like Bryce Harper looking at a ghost fork, I’d fallen victim to my own myopia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Felicity Finch, who plays former Harper Adams student Ruth Archer on the BBC's The Archers programme, will receive an honorary doctorate.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
What about the letter she had picked up that day on Harper Avenue—had that been one of the original three?
From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett
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
There go the harpers and the minstrels and the kings of the earth.
From The Big Time by Fritz Leiber
We learn an art by doing that which we wish to do when we have learned it; we become builders by building, and harpers by playing on the harp.
From The Five Great Philosophies of Life by William De Witt Hyde
"But now-a-days I suppose it will not have many customers from the harpers: what little business it has will lie chiefly among those 'odd sort of folks from the sea-side,'--eh, landlord?"
From Walladmor: And Now Freely Translated from the German into English. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. by Thomas De Quincey
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