Philomela

[ fil-uh-mee-luh ]
/ ˌfɪl əˈmi lə /

noun

Classical Mythology. an Athenian princess who was raped by her brother-in-law Tereus and was subsequently avenged and transformed into a nightingale.
(lowercase) philomel.

Definition for philomela (2 of 2)

philomel

or phil·o·me·la

[ fil-uh-mel or fil-uh-mee-luh ]
/ ˈfɪl əˌmɛl or ˌfɪl əˈmi lə /

noun Literary.

the nightingale.

Origin of philomel

1350–1400; earlier Philomele, Philomela (< Middle French philomèle) < Latin Philomēla < Greek Philómēla Philomela; replacing Middle English Philomene < Medieval Latin Philomēna, dissimilated variant of Philomēla

Example sentences from the Web for philomela

British Dictionary definitions for philomela (1 of 2)

Philomela
/ (ˌfɪləʊˈmiːlə) /

noun

Greek myth an Athenian princess, who was raped and had her tongue cut out by her brother-in-law Tereus, and subsequently was transformed into a nightingale See Procne

British Dictionary definitions for philomela (2 of 2)

philomel

philomela (ˌfɪləʊˈmiːlə)

/ (ˈfɪləˌmɛl) /

noun

poetic names for a nightingale

Word Origin for philomel

C14 philomene, via Medieval Latin from Latin philomēla, from Greek