harper

See also: Harper

English

Etymology

From Middle English harpere, from Old English hearpere (harpist, harper), equivalent to harp + -er. Cognate with Middle Low German harpære (harper), German Harfer and Harfner (harper).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈhɑː(ɹ)pə(ɹ)/

Noun

harper (plural harpers)

  1. A harpist, especially one who plays a traditional harp without pedals.
    • 1568, William Cornishe [i.e., William Cornysh], “In the Fleete Made by Me William Cornishe otherwise Called Nyshwhete Chapelman with the Most Famose and Noble Kyng Henry the VII. His Reygne the XIX. Yere the Moneth of July. A Treatise betwene Trouth, and Information.”, in John Skelton, edited by J[ohn] S[tow], Pithy Pleasaunt and Profitable Workes of Maister Skelton, Poete Laureate, Imprinted at London: In Fletestreate, neare vnto St Dunstan-in-the-West by Thomas Marshe, →OCLC; republished as Pithy Pleasaunt and Profitable Workes of Maister Skelton, Poete Laureate to King Henry the VIIIth, London: Printed for C. Davis in Pater-noster Row, 1736, →OCLC, page 290:
      The Harpe. []
      A harper with his wreſt maye tune the harpe wrong
      Mys tunying of an Inſtrument ſhal hurt a true ſonge
  2. (obsolete) An old Irish brass coin bearing the emblem of a harp.

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

Danish

Noun

harper c

  1. indefinite plural of harpe

French

Etymology

From Old High German harfan.

Pronunciation

  • (aspirated h) IPA(key): /aʁ.pe/
  • (file)

Verb

harper

  1. (transitive, intransitive) to grasp forcefully

Conjugation

Further reading

Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

harper m or f

  1. indefinite plural of harpe

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

harper f

  1. indefinite plural of harpe

Old French

Verb

harper

  1. to play the harp

Conjugation

This verb conjugates as a first-group verb ending in -er. The forms that would normally end in *-ps, *-pt are modified to s, t. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.