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
Not till the man was fed did the sweet harper end his singing—whereupon the company made the walls ring again with talk.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
The harper gave him back some answer, and Hrothgar spoke again.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
The people were noisy for a time, yelling to the harper, offering him mead, making jokes, and then again King Hrothgar spoke, white-bearded.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
Harper says he’d been interested in being part of the show set in the late 1970s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Hugh Harper said that four years on, the family feels no closer to the truth about what happened to his daughter.
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
Mrs. Harper told us that when she was younger and Pluto was still a planet, the mnemonic device they used was “My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.”
From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy
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
Thither goes the gold and the silver and cloth of vair, and cloth of gris, and harpers and makers, and the prince of this world.
From The English Novel in the Time of Shakespeare by J. J. Jusserand
As the summer winds had howled up the Notch, lashing the leafy branches of the birches and beeches, so now the winter winds howled down, harpers that struck dismal notes from the bare trees.
From King Spruce, A Novel by Holman Day
Bed and entertainment for a day and a night could be had by the meanest wayfarer, so without comment, the maiden took her place among the singers and harpers.
From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Lucy Foster Madison
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