Pierides

[ pahy-er-i-deez ]
/ paɪˈɛr ɪˌdiz /

plural noun Classical Mythology.

the Muses.
nine Thessalian maidens who challenged the Muses to a singing contest, lost, and were changed into magpies for insulting the victors.

Example sentences from the Web for pierides

  • His own enrolled unrhythmical bardic troops (humorous mercenaries when Celts) do his trumpeting best, and offend not the Pierides.

    The Celt and Saxon, Complete |George Meredith

  • The same thing happened since to the Pierides; so much has fable always imitated sacred history.

    Voltaire's Romances |Franois-Marie Arouet

British Dictionary definitions for pierides

Pierides
/ (paɪˈɪərɪˌdiːz) /

pl n Greek myth

the Muses See Muse
nine maidens of Thessaly, who were defeated in a singing contest by the Muses and turned into magpies for their effrontery