harpagon

See also: Harpagon

English

Etymology

Adapted from Latin harpagō, gen. harpagōnis, from Ancient Greek ἁρπάγη (harpágē, “hook”), from ἁρπάζω (harpázō, “to snatch away, to carry off, to seize, to captivate”), of uncertain origin. Doublet of harpoon.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɑː(ɹ)pəɡɒn/

Noun

harpagon (plural harpagons)

1. (obsolete) A grappling hook.

Anagrams

• agraphon

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French

Etymology

Named after Harpagon, the protagonist of Molière's The Miser (1668), whose name is an adaptation of Latin harpagō, gen. harpagōnis (“grappling hook, grappling iron”), from Ancient Greek ἁρπάγη (harpágē, “hook”), from ἁρπάζω (harpázō, “to snatch away, to carry off, to seize, to captivate”), of uncertain origin, and whence also harpon (“harpoon”).

Pronunciation

• ^{(mute h)} IPA^(key): /aʁ.pa.ɡɔ̃/
• Rhymes: -ɔ̃

Noun

harpagon m (plural harpagons, feminine harpagonne)

1. A very miserly and selfish person.

   Synonym: avare

Usage notes

• The feminine form is much less common than its masculine counterpart.

Derived terms

• harpagonnerie

Descendants

• → Italian: arpagone
• Romanian: harpagon, arpagon

References

• “harpagon”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.