Helen

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Proper noun 1.3.1 Related terms 1.3.2 Quotations 1.3.3 Translations 2 Danish 2.1 Proper noun 3 Estonian 3.1 Proper noun 4 Norwegian 4.1 Proper noun 5 Swedish 5.1 Proper noun

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek Ἑλένη (Helenē), possibly connected with ἥλιος (hēlios), “‘sun’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

• Rhymes: -ɛlən

[edit] Proper noun

Singular Helen

Plural -

Helen

1. (Greek mythology) Helen of Troy, a famous beauty in classical Greek legend.
2. A female given name.

[edit] Related terms

• Elaine, Elena, Ellen, Ellie, Helena, Helene, Ilona, Lena, Nell, Nellie

[edit] Quotations

• 1602 William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, Act I, Scene I

  Fools on both sides! Helen must needs be fair,

  When with your blood you daily paint her thus.

• 1928 Agatha Christie, The Mystery of the Blue Train

  "Is her name Ellen or Helen, Miss Viner? I thought - "

  Miss Viner closed her eyes.

  "I can sound my h's, dear, as well as anyone, but Helen is not a suitable name for a servant. I don't know what the mothers in the lower classes are coming to nowadays."

• 1993 Oscar Hijuelos, The Fourteen Sisters of Emilio Montez O'Brien, ISBN 0-14-023028-9, page 6:

  in 1910 she brought Helen into the world, the little female, or "mujercita", as her mother called all the babies, naming her after the glittery label on a facial ointment, The Helen of Troy Beauty Pomade, said to eradicate wrinkles, to soften and add a youthful glow to the user's skin - a fortuitous choice because, of all the sisters, she would be the most beautiful and, never growing old, would always possess the face of a winsome adolescent beauty.

• 2003 Deborah Crombie, A Share in Death, HarperCollins, ISBN 0060534389, page 189

  Gemma followed her, thinking that Helen seemed rather an old-fashioned and elegant name for this rumpled young mother.

[edit] Translations

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[edit] Danish

[edit] Proper noun

Helen

1. A female given name borrowed from English.

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[edit] Estonian

[edit] Proper noun

Helen

1. A female given name, short form of Helena, also borrowed from English Helen.

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[edit] Norwegian

[edit] Proper noun

Helen

1. A female given name borrowed from English.

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[edit] Swedish

[edit] Proper noun

Helen

1. A female given name borrowed from English.