Pierides

American  

[pahy-er-i-deez] / paɪˈɛr ɪˌdiz /

plural noun

Classical Mythology.

1. the Muses.

2. nine Thessalian maidens who challenged the Muses to a singing contest, lost, and were changed into magpies for insulting the victors.

---

Pierides British  

/ paɪˈɪərɪˌdiːz /

plural noun

1. the Muses See Muse

2. nine maidens of Thessaly, who were defeated in a singing contest by the Muses and turned into magpies for their effrontery

---

Example Sentences

The Pierides were signally defeated, and were transformed by the Muses into singing birds, as a punishment for having dared to challenge comparison with the immortals.

From Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by Berens, E.M.

"Thy singer has learned his art from a teacher heavenlier than the Pierides, and its name is Hope."

From Pausanias, the Spartan The Haunted and the Haunters, an Unfinished Historical Romance by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron

Here be shadows large and long; Here be spaces meet for song; Grant, O garden-god, that I, Now that none profane is nigh,— Now that mood and moment please,— Find the fair Pierides!

From Bulchevy's Book of English Verse by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

Then wise Pallas is struck down by the dagger of error, and the charming Pierides are smitten by the truculent tyranny of madness.

From The Love of Books The Philobiblon of Richard de Bury by Thomas, Ernest Chester

Vertigo nimium longa est, divina poeta;   Dent tibi Pierides, donet Apollo, brevem.

From The Poems of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume 1 by Browning, William Ernst