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Glite Dictionary
Lorelei

Lorelei

1 9.9
A legendary woman who sings on a rock by the Rhine and lures sailors to danger
  • proper noun
  • /ˈlɔːrəˌlaɪ/
  • Literature
: Lorelei
  • Sailors have long feared the enchanting song of the Lorelei, a mythical siren who lures them to the treacherous waters.

Examples

  • Like a Lorelei, flaunting her charms as she lured men on and on to their eternal destruction.

    Blonde (2022)

  • I've heard the story of the Lorelei.

    Ghost Ship (2002)

  • "And I'm sure your teachers have taught you that the Lorelei live in the Rhine, where they lure men to their death."

    Fiction book (1997)

  • According to legend, the Lorelei sits on a rock by the Rhine River, singing to draw sailors to their doom.

  • The tale of the Lorelei warns travelers to stay vigilant and not be captivated by her beautiful voice.

Synonyms

siren
vsLorelei
  • Literature
11 9.4

A mythical sea creature whose singing lured sailors to shipwreck

is a single named figure in German folklore rather than a general myth type

Surface Forms

Lorelei main

Etymology

Lorelei comes from the name of a famous rock on the Rhine River in Germany. The place name probably joins a word like lure 'to attract' with ley 'rock', so a helpful way to remember it is the image of a singing woman on a rock who 'lures' sailors to danger.