harper
noun
a person who plays the harp.
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harperess.
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
The harper gave him back some answer, and Hrothgar spoke again.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
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
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
Mr. Taube, a Canadian columnist, was a speechwriter for former prime minister Stephen Harper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Darren Harper is the Belfast area commander for the Community Rescue Service, whose volunteers are preparing to respond to emergencies.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
When William Jackson Harper moved to Los Angeles to star in NBC’s “The Good Place” a decade ago, he himself felt out of place.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Harper said the family will travel to Creeslough on Wednesday to remember their daughter and the other victims.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Unfortunately, Harper committed an outrageous and unconventional act when she completed her work for the first volume.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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
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
There was a balcony at the further end, where the white-haired harpers played, and sang tales of war and love; curious antique mottoes were blazoned on the walls in old Welsh characters.
From The Ruined Cities of Zululand by Hugh Mulleneux Walmsley
Accordingly in 1567 Queen Elizabeth issued a commission for holding an Eisteddfod at Caerwys in the following year, which was duly held, when degrees were conferred on 55 candidates, including 20 harpers.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various
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