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Niobe

Niobe

9.9
A woman in Greek myth who lost her children and turned to stone while mourning them
  • proper noun
  • /ˈnaɪəbi/
  • Literature
: Niobe
  • The story of Niobe serves as a reminder of the dangers of hubris in Greek mythology.
  • Queen Niobe
  • Captain Niobe

Examples

  • And if Niobe's right, in 72 hours there's gonna be a quarter-million more.

  • What is it, Niobe?

  • There are some things in this world, Captain Niobe... ...that will never change.

  • - Believe me, Niobe, he needs you.

  • - Niobe, what are you doing?

  • - Thank you, Captain Niobe.

  • Captain Niobe of the Logos will answer the councillor's call.

  • Lilly telling Hank to "look on the bright side" has the persuasive force of Niobe advising Jeremiah to "cheer up."

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The scene in question concerns Niobe, whose anguish and moral outrage at the death of her child flag as her own body's need for food reasserts itself.

    Academic text (2001)
  • In Greek mythology, Niobe lost her children due to her pride, becoming a symbol of grief.

Surface Forms

Niobe main

Etymology

Niobe is the name of a woman in a Greek myth who proudly boasted about her many children. When they were killed she was turned to stone while she mourned, so Niobe is used to mean someone frozen in deep, lasting sorrow or a warning against pride.