Μέγαιρα

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From μεγαίρω (megaírō, to grudge, to envy).

This was the name of one of the Furies or Ἐρινύες (Erinúes, Erinyes) in Greek mythology. The name is used as a word in several European languages to denote a shrewish, ill-tempered woman. Compare French mégère, Italian megera and Sicilian majara.

Pronunciation

 

Proper noun

Μέγαιρα • (Mégaira) f (genitive Μέγαιρας); first declension

  1. (Greek mythology, Roman mythology) One of the Erinyes/Dirae, (Furies, the goddesses of envy and jealousy who induced to commit crimes, such as marital infidelity.
    Coordinate terms: Ἀληκτώ (Alēktṓ), Τισιφόνη (Tisiphónē)

Inflection

Descendants

  • French: mégère
  • Italian: megera
  • Sicilian: magara, majara, mavara
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