Lorelei describes a dangerously seductive woman, referencing a German legend of a nymph whose enchanting song led sailors to ruin.
Lorelei refers to a dangerously seductive woman, named after a nymph in German legend who lured sailors to their deaths with her songs. The term evokes a sense of alluring but perilous charm.
| Back | Lorelei /LOR-uh-ly/ |
|---|---|
| Front | noun A dangerously seductive woman. [In German legend Lorelei was a nymph who sat on a rock of the same name on the Rhine river. Her songs lured sailors to their destruction on the rock. Earliest documented use: 1878. Also see siren, Mata Hari, and Circe.] “In fact, Peter the Publican’s daughter is his Lorelei, enticing customers into his establishment, then flirting brazenly just to keep them drinking.” - Michael Dirda; These Dead Men Don’t Just Tell Tales, They Quarrel. A Lot; The Washington Post; Apr 9, 2015. |
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