释义 |
Definition of harpy in English: harpynounPlural harpies ˈhɑːpiˈhɑrpi 1Greek Mythology Roman Mythology A rapacious monster described as having a woman's head and body and a bird's wings and claws or depicted as a bird of prey with a woman's face. Example sentencesExamples - Hybrid creatures, such as sphinxes, harpies, sirens, griffons and centaurs, carved on Roman sarcophagi, candelabras, altars and temple friezes, were a direct source of artistic inspiration.
- In the old Greek stories harpies were agents of divine retribution unleashed on those who victimized others by violence.
- The harpy woman shook her wings and let out a blood curdling cry from the depths of her throat, raising goose bumps on my arms.
- The harpy, whose name was derived from the Greek word arpazo, ‘to seize’, was a monstrous female demon of insatiable hunger, known as temptress, seductress and tormenter of victims.
- Banished to the seventh circle of hell and turned into burning trees, Dante's suicides are fed upon by harpies for all eternity.
2A grasping, unpleasant woman. clearly, he had us down as a couple of gold-digging harpies Example sentencesExamples - From what we see, Clare has an intuitive sympathy with children, while Mrs Trevel, far from being a bearer of hidden wisdom, is actually a vengeful harpy.
- I feel like a heartless harpy for having these feelings, but ultimately, I feel stifled by him, nay even negated.
- I don't know about anyone else, but I find it a little hard to identify with a shrieking harpy.
- Surely this wasn't the cold-hearted harpy that had spurned my affections.
- He is not alone in his depravity, however; his mistress is an opportunistic parvenu, and his wife is a merciless harpy.
Origin Late Middle English: from Latin harpyia, from Greek harpuiai 'snatchers'. Definition of harpy in US English: harpynounˈhɑrpiˈhärpē Roman Mythology Greek Mythology 1A rapacious monster described as having a woman's head and body and a bird's wings and claws or depicted as a bird of prey with a woman's face. Example sentencesExamples - In the old Greek stories harpies were agents of divine retribution unleashed on those who victimized others by violence.
- The harpy woman shook her wings and let out a blood curdling cry from the depths of her throat, raising goose bumps on my arms.
- Banished to the seventh circle of hell and turned into burning trees, Dante's suicides are fed upon by harpies for all eternity.
- The harpy, whose name was derived from the Greek word arpazo, ‘to seize’, was a monstrous female demon of insatiable hunger, known as temptress, seductress and tormenter of victims.
- Hybrid creatures, such as sphinxes, harpies, sirens, griffons and centaurs, carved on Roman sarcophagi, candelabras, altars and temple friezes, were a direct source of artistic inspiration.
- 1.1 A grasping, unpleasant woman.
Example sentencesExamples - From what we see, Clare has an intuitive sympathy with children, while Mrs Trevel, far from being a bearer of hidden wisdom, is actually a vengeful harpy.
- Surely this wasn't the cold-hearted harpy that had spurned my affections.
- I feel like a heartless harpy for having these feelings, but ultimately, I feel stifled by him, nay even negated.
- I don't know about anyone else, but I find it a little hard to identify with a shrieking harpy.
- He is not alone in his depravity, however; his mistress is an opportunistic parvenu, and his wife is a merciless harpy.
Origin Late Middle English: from Latin harpyia, from Greek harpuiai ‘snatchers’. |