philomel

[ fil-uh-mel ]

/ ˈfɪl əˌmɛl /

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noun Literary.

the nightingale.

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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

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Also phil·o·me·la

[fil-uh-mee-luh] /ˌfɪl əˈmi lə/ .

Origin of philomel

1350–1400; earlier Philomele, Philomela (<Middle French philomèle) <Latin Philomēla<Greek PhilómēlaPhilomela; replacing Middle English Philomene<Medieval Latin Philomēna, dissimilated variant of Philomēla

Words nearby philomel

philol., philologian, philologist, philology, philomath, philomel, Philomela, Philomelides, philopena, philophobia, philoprogenitive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use philomel in a sentence

Mariequita thought that perhaps Philomel's mother might come for a few days, and money enough.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Two of the fire-ships were soon in flames, a third blew up, and a fourth was sunk by the Philomel.
How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves|W.H.G. Kingston
About an hour from the time the gallant little Philomel got under fire, the action became general.
The Three Lieutenants|W.H.G. Kingston
A hand organ—Philomel by the grace of our stage carpenter, Fancy—fluted and droned in a side street.
The Four Million|O. Henry

The Philomel had been lying off Cowes three days before Mr. Smithson appeared upon the scene.
Phantom Fortune, A Novel|M. E. Braddon

British Dictionary definitions for philomel

philomel

philomela (ˌfɪləʊˈmiːlə)

/ (ˈfɪləˌmɛl) /

noun

poetic names for a nightingale

Word Origin for philomel

C14 philomene, via Medieval Latin from Latin philomēla, from Greek

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