Brunnhilde

1 9.9

A woman in old German and Norse stories who loves a hero and dies tragically

proper noun

Literature

: Brunnhilde

In the opera, Brunnhilde sacrifices herself for love after being deceived by those she trusted.

Examples

The powerful warrior queen, Brunnhilde, is known for her tragic love story with Siegfried.
The closest you ever came to doom was when you played Brunnhilde in your high school play.

Fiction book (1999)
She will sing an aria from Richard Wagner's opera, The Valkyrie, "Brunnhilde's Battle Cry."

The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938)
The tale of Brunnhilde captivates audiences with its themes of honor, love, and betrayal.

Synonyms

Brunhild

vsBrunnhilde

Literature

1 9.9

A warrior queen in Norse legend known for great strength and tragic love

is more specific about the fatal deceit and suicide than the general saga portrait

Brynhild

vsBrunnhilde

Literature

1 9.9

A woman in Norse legend who is a warrior and a tragic lover

is told with more detail about deceit and killing rather than broad summary

Brynhildr

vsBrunnhilde

Literature

9.9

A warrior woman and queen in old Norse stories who loved the hero Siegfried and killed herself after his death

is told more generally, focusing on role and traits rather than precise actions

Surface Forms

Brunnhilde main

Etymology

Brunnhilde comes from old German name parts brun and hild, where brun means 'armor' or 'brown' and hild means 'battle'. So think of her as a 'warrior in armor', which fits her role as a valkyrie and tragic queen.