Mata Hari

American  

[mah-tuh hahr-ee, mat-uh har-ee] / ˈmɑ tə ˈhɑr i, ˈmæt ə ˈhær i /

noun

1. Gertrud Margarete Zelle, 1876–1917, Dutch dancer in France: executed as a spy by the French.

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Mata Hari British  

/ ˈmɑːtə ˈhɑːrɪ /

noun

1. real name Gertrud Margarete Zelle. 1876–1917, Dutch dancer in France, who was executed as a German spy in World War I

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Mata Hari Cultural  

1. A Dutch spy who worked for both the French and the Germans during World War I. The French executed her in 1917.

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Discover More

A “Mata Hari” is a seductive, double-dealing woman.

Example Sentences

The iconic building has hosted many authors and artists throughout its history, including Ernest Hemingway, Mata Hari and Greta Garbo.

From New York Times

A native of Sweden, Garbo starred in both silent and sound films with iconic roles in “Ninotchka,” “Camille,” “Queen Christie” and “Mata Hari.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Mata Hari,” which means “eye of the day” in Malay, is one of many ceremonial cloths of a similar design crafted in India for Indonesian buyers.

From Washington Post

Did Mata Hari try to blackmail Wilson after seducing him?

From Washington Post

“If they are indeed Benedict Arnold and Mata Hari,” he said, “I was the one who was fooled.”

From New York Times