This week's theme: words derived from the names of mythical creatures.

harpy (HAR-pee) noun

   1. A predatory person.

   2. A bad-tempered woman.

[After the Harpies, monsters in Greek mythology, who had a woman's head and
a bird's body. The gods ordered them to snatch food from Phineus, a king
who was punished for revealing secrets. From Greek harpazein (to snatch).]

Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=harpy

-Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)

  "Longoria Parker comes across as a shrill harpy in her pivotal role,
   hounding Ashley into ending the affair."
   Sam Cannon; She's No Angel; Bristol Evening Post (UK); Jan 31, 2008.

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............................................................................
This above all: to thine own self be true, \ And it must follow, as the
night the day, \ Thou canst not then be false to any man. -William
Shakespeare, poet and dramatist (1564-1616)

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Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/harpy.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/harpy.ram

Permalink: http://wordsmith.org/words/harpy.html

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