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Helen

American  
[hel-uhn] / ˈhɛl ən /

noun

  1. Also called Helen of TroyClassical Mythology. the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda and wife of Menelaus whose abduction by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War.

  2. a female given name.


Helen British  
/ ˈhɛlɪn /

noun

  1. Greek myth the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction by Paris from her husband Menelaus caused the Trojan War

"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

Etymology

Origin of Helen

< French Hélène < Latin Helena < Greek Helénē, of obscure origin, probably the name of a pre-Greek vegetation goddess; often linked by folk etymology with helénē, helánē torch, St. Elmo's fire, an unrelated word

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.

Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London at the Met, said Wednesday that the force had seen "a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years".

From Barron's

Provisions equivalent to Helen's Law, requiring parole commissioners to consider failure to disclose the location of victims' remains in release decisions.

From BBC

It was those drawings that caught the eye of Geisel's classmate, and fellow American, Helen Palmer.

From BBC

General manager Helen Chandler said she did not expect hydrolosis to become the new funeral standard, but said its introduction would offer a different choice for grieving families.

From BBC

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has urged Irish citizens to adopt a "shelter in place" strategy.

From BBC