harpy
/ˈhɑːpi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːrpi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhär-pē/ (ame, mw)
harpy — noun
- harpysingular
- harpiesplural
1. a frightening monster from old Greek and Roman myths, pictured as having a woman
a frightening monster from old Greek and Roman myths, pictured as having a woman's face on top of the wings, body, and claws of a large bird.
On the museum wall, Daichi sketched a harpy swooping down toward a fleeing sailor.
countable: a harpy / two harpies
The painting showed three harpies snatching food from the king's banquet table.
plural form 'harpies' for multiple creatures
In Greek myth, harpies were sent by the gods to punish men who broke a sacred promise.
Ingrid told the children that the howling wind sounded like a harpy circling above the cottage.
用法筆記
Almost always appears in mythological or fantasy contexts — discussions of Greek myth, classical art, novels, or role-playing games. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names a creature and carries no insult.
常見錯誤
2. an offensive label for a woman the speaker sees as bad-tempered, shouting, and u
an offensive label for a woman the speaker sees as bad-tempered, shouting, and unpleasant to deal with — drawn from the cruel monster of myth.
The tabloid called the actress a harpy after she shouted at a journalist outside the courtroom.
typical context: media or gossip labelling a woman
Samir refused to use the word 'harpy' about his neighbour, calling it an old and sexist insult.
register: speakers often flag the word as offensive
In the play, the husband bitterly described his mother-in-law as a harpy who ruined every family meal.
Reviewers attacked the novel for painting every powerful woman as either a saint or a harpy.
用法筆記
Strongly offensive and sexist — there is no male equivalent in everyday English. Modern speakers typically use the word only to quote or criticise someone else's misogyny, not as their own description. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the literal mythical creature with no insult.