Lorelei

American  

[lawr-uh-lahy, loh-ruh-lahy] / ˈlɔr əˌlaɪ, ˈloʊ rəˌlaɪ /

noun

1. a quasilegendary nymph of the Rhine who lured sailors to shipwreck on her rock by singing: a creation of Clemens Brentano in a poem of 1800.

2. a female given name.

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Lorelei British  

/ ˈlɒrəˌlaɪ /

noun

1. (in German legend) a siren, said to dwell on a rock at the edge of the Rhine south of Koblenz, who lures boatmen to destruction

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Etymology

Origin of Lorelei

< German, variant of Lurlei, cliff overlooking the Rhine, thought to be the abode of a nymph

Example Sentences

“This is analogous to permitting a shopping center,” said Lorelei Oviatt, Kern County’s director of planning and natural resources.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2024

For some like Lorelei and her friends, rationing pills has been the only option and holding down a job has become too much as their original symptoms have returned.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2024

The minigames within Lorelei almost included Nim, an ancient combinatorial game that appears in “Last Year at Marienbad.”

From New York Times • May 15, 2024

In California, Lorelei Barrett and Athena Ryan qualified for the state preliminary track-and-field championships in May with top-three finishes in the 1600m.

From Washington Times • Jun. 1, 2023

Last year, in second grade, there had been four girls who were always exchanging looks with one another—Becky Baker, Lorelei Sun, Andrea Hennessey, and Eileen Garrett.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies