Harpy

[ hahr-pee ]
/ ˈhɑr pi /

noun, plural Har·pies.

Classical Mythology. a ravenous, filthy monster having a woman's head and a bird's body.
(lowercase) a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; shrew.
(lowercase) a greedy, predatory person.

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Origin of Harpy

<Latin Harpȳia, singular of Harpȳiae<Greek Hárpȳiai (plural), literally, snatchers, akin to harpázein to snatch away

OTHER WORDS FROM Harpy

harp·y·like, adjective

Words nearby Harpy

harp on, harpoon, harpoon gun, harp seal, harpsichord, Harpy, harpy eagle, harquebus, harquebusier, Harrer, harridan
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for Harpy

British Dictionary definitions for Harpy (1 of 2)

harpy
/ (ˈhɑːpɪ) /

noun plural -pies

a cruel grasping woman

Word Origin for harpy

C16: from Latin Harpyia, from Greek Harpuiai the Harpies, literally: snatchers, from harpazein to seize

British Dictionary definitions for Harpy (2 of 2)

Harpy
/ (ˈhɑːpɪ) /

noun plural -pies

Greek myth a ravenous creature with a woman's head and trunk and a bird's wings and claws
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012