Harpy
noun
a ravenous, filthy monster having a woman's head and a bird's body.
Harpy
American
[hahr-pee]
/ ˈhɑr pi /
noun
-
Harpies
plural
-
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.
Harpy
1
British
/ ˈhɑːpɪ /
noun
harpy
2
British
/ ˈhɑːpɪ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of Harpy
< Latin Harpȳia, singular of Harpȳiae < Greek Hárpȳiai (plural), literally, snatchers, akin to harpázein to snatch away
Explanation
A harpy is a monster from Greek mythology. A harpy has the head and upper body of a woman and the wings and lower body of a bird. In Greek mythology, harpies were creatures who were sent by Zeus during storms to do his bidding. When a person or an object went missing, the disappearance was often blamed on harpies. The word harpy comes from a Greek word meaning "snatcher." Today, the word harpy is often used as a derogatory term for a very unpleasant woman.
Vocabulary lists containing harpy
"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
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Reading: Literature - Mythology - Introductory
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Reading: Literature - Mythology - Middle School
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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:
Harpy eagles had been spotted along the river a couple of years ago, Mr. Gualinga said, adding that he’d seen them on trips to the area in recent months.
From New York Times ● Apr. 26, 2023
Harpy eagles were once widespread throughout southern Mexico and Central and South America, but tree cutting and burning has dramatically shrunk their range.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 30, 2021
Harpy birthday: On Dec. 8, wish it on Ann Coulter.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 26, 2018
The Harpy is designed to attack radars, not people, and no country has announced plans to build fully autonomous killing machines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2018
Skahaz was convinced that somewhere in Meereen the Sons of the Harpy had a highborn overlord, a secret general commanding an army of shadows.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
If a woman's happiness depended on her husband or boyfriend tamping down his talents, we'd all think she was an evil harpy.
From Salon ● Jan. 3, 2024
Ms. Boycott chose the name — a virago is defined both as a strong, heroic woman and as a harpy — and it fit the mission, and perhaps also Ms. Callil’s persona.
From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2022
Interestingly, it was once thought that this species was related to other large forest eagles found around the world, such as the harpy eagle of South America and the crowned hawk eagle of Africa.
From National Geographic ● Jan. 28, 2021
Another memorable detail from the episode — Schlafly’s gown with its crazy harpy wings — is accurate but anachronistic.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2020
She felt despair sit on her shoulders, as heavy as if the harpy herself were perching there.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
We encounter it first in Homer’s “Iliad” and then again in Virgil’s “Aeneid,” where it appears at the doors of Hades alongside Gorgons, centaurs and Harpies.
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2023
The images of Chiron the centaur and his pupil Odysseus, or the purposeful winged Harpies, are burned into me.
From The Guardian ● May 23, 2020
The Greek hero sails through Harpies and clashing rocks to the Golden Fleece, guarded by the Hydra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2019
But he barely has time to take a victory lap, because he's still got to see to the swarm of Harpies that materialize in the arena — you know what that means!
From The Verge ● Jun. 10, 2015
Although the Argonauts had sailed east from Greece and Aeneas’ company were westward bound from Crete, the Trojans came upon the Harpies just as Jason and his men had done.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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