ogress
1 Americannoun
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a female monster in fairy tales and popular legend, usually represented as a hideous giant who feeds on human flesh.
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a monstrously ugly, cruel, or barbarous woman.
noun
Usage
What does ogress mean? An ogress is a female ogre—a fictional creature usually represented as a mean, ugly humanlike monster or giant who eats people.The word ogress is not commonly used, especially since the word ogre can be used regardless of gender.Ogres and ogresses have traditionally appeared in fairy tales and legends, but they’re also depicted in modern media, such as fantasy video games and the series of movies starring the character Shrek, who happens to be a friendly ogre. Spoiler alert: the character Fiona turns out to be an ogress.The words ogre and ogress are sometimes used in a figurative way as an insult referring to a person who’s cruel, monstrous, ugly, or brutish—or (especially) a combination of these characteristics, as in The boss at my last job was a complete ogress—she had a terrible temper and delighted in harassing and firing people. Such a person can be described with the adjective ogreish (or ogrish).In heraldry, the word ogress refers to a black circle.Example: At the end of this level, you have to battle a huge ogress who’s trying to eat you alive.
Gender
See -ess.
Etymology
Origin of ogress1
From the French word ogresse, dating back to 1705–15. See ogre, -ess
Origin of ogress2
First recorded in 1565–75; origin uncertain
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.
In the case of voracious Slapu, elders warn the children to come home before nightfall because of the ogress waiting in the woods skirting Port Gamble Bay.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 17, 2023
The ogress and the orphans do the ridding, with cleareyed ingenuity.
From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2022
“We believe that we came into existence when an ogress mated with a monkey. Is that possible?”
From Scientific American • Apr. 10, 2019
The fatal mother – aka the witch, aka the ogress – is an aspect of motherhood itself.
From The Guardian • May 14, 2010
The ogress had already closed half the distance to the bush.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
