Harper Meaning
/ˈhɑː(ɹ)pə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA harpist, especially one who plays a traditional harp without pedals.
nounAn old Irish brass coin bearing the emblem of a harp.
Sentence Examples
Partly because he could not receive enough information, Harper's description remains imperfect.
Harper danced gracefully on stage.
The talented harper played a gentle melody.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The talented ____ skillfully plucked the strings of the harp, enchanting the audience.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ performed a series of traditional folk songs at the local festival last weekend.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Harpe. […]
A harper with his wreſt maye tune the harpe wrong
Mys tunying of an Inſtrument ſhal hurt a true ſonge"
— 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 harper that was gathered amongst us to pay the piper"
— 1621 August 13 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Ben Jonson, “The Masque of the Gypsies”, in Q. Horatius Flaccus: His Art of Poetry. […], London: […] J[ohn] Okes, for John Benson […], published 1640, →OCLC:
"Two children who were killed in an attack on a Catholic school in Minneapolis have been identified by their parents as Harper Moyski, a "joyful" big sister, and Fletcher Merkel, who loved "any sport that he was allowed to play"."
— 2025 August 29, Max Matza, “A 'joyful' girl and a boy who loved sports - Victims in Minneapolis shooting identified”, in BBC, archived from the original on 29 Aug 2025:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The talented ____ skillfully plucked the strings of the harp, enchanting the audience.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ performed a series of traditional folk songs at the local festival last weekend.