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Glite Dictionary
harper

harper

1 7.8
A person who plays a large instrument with many strings that you pluck
  • noun
  • /ˈhɑːrpər/
translation icon : arpista
  • At the festival, the harper performed enchanting tunes on her instrument throughout the day.
  • a young harper
  • the harper played

Examples

  • Fern invited wandering bards and harpers to our great hall and played with the best of them.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • " You have harpers who instruct by set lessons."

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The other two harpers rolled their eyes.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • We--we can find harper and get him so drunk that he sings that song again.

    Hollidaysburg (2014)

  • I once heard a harper play Aspen at a wedding, which was stunning and magical.

    Blog text (32)

  • Then the young harper's expression turned rueful.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "As ready as I'll ever be," the harper replied, resettling his grip on Jaxom's wide belt.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Not just a lady's nurse, Nuala was a blacksmith, boatwright, and harper - who shoed her own horses, built her own boats, and composed her own verse.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The talented harper played a beautiful melody that captivated the entire audience.

  • The harper was invited to play at the royal court, showcasing his exceptional musical skills.

Synonyms

musician
vsharper
644 1.8

A person who plays or writes music for others

is limited to playing one instrument rather than composing or conducting
harpist
vsharper
5 5.5

A person who plays the harp, often as a job or serious hobby

is the same but focuses on professional activity rather than hobby
instrumentalist
vsharper
5 5.3

A person who plays a musical instrument, often as a job

is specific to that instrument rather than any instrument

How Professional

virtuoso
12 8.0
harper
1 7.8
student
∞ 1.0
hobbyist
12 3.5

Surface Forms

harper singular
harpers plural

Morphology

harper = harp (transparent) = harp + er

The word is a straightforward agentive noun formed from 'harp' plus '-er', meaning a person who plays the harp.

Etymology

Harper comes from the instrument harp plus the ending -er, which means 'one who' or 'someone who does something'. So a harper is simply a person who plays the harp.