Lo·re·lei

(lôr′ə-lī′)

A siren of Germanic legend whose singing lures sailors to shipwreck.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Lorelei

(ˈlɒrəˌlaɪ)

(European Myth & Legend) (in German legend) a siren, said to dwell on a rock at the edge of the Rhine south of Koblenz, who lures boatmen to destruction

[C19: from German Lurlei name of the rock; from a poem by Clemens Brentano (1778–1842)]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Lor•e•lei

(ˈlɔr əˌlaɪ)

n.

a nymph of the Rhine whose singing lured sailors to shipwreck on a rock.

[< German]

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Noun

Lorelei - a Siren of German legend who lured boatmen in the Rhine to destruction

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

The last legend reminds one of the "Lorelei"--a legend of the Rhine.

Germany is rich in folk-songs, and the words and airs of several of them are peculiarly beautiful--but "The Lorelei" is the people's favorite.

And I will refresh the reader's memory by printing the legend of the Lorelei, too.

The Lorelei did not "call his name in unutterable sweet Whispers" this time.

The bitterest things have been said about the Lorelei during many centuries, but surely her conduct upon this occasion entitles her to our respect.

The pitiless billows engulf him!--So perish sailor and bark; And this, with her baleful singing, Is the Lorelei's gruesome work.

View in context

While she talked, he seemed to hear, rippling softly, the song of the Lorelei. It was as though, somewhere, a piano were playing and the actual notes were impinging on his ear-drums.

View in context

The 1953 musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is best remembered for Monroe's portrayal of the golddigging Lorelei Lee.A floorlength, red silk sequined dress worn near the start of the film is among the items up for sale.

Monroe outfits to go under hammer

Regan's children Lorelei, seven, and Dexter, four, are being cared for by their aunt Shannon, who now plans to adopt them with partner Alan Shaw.

Killed mum's sister in vow to adopt kids

The tragedy has left Regan's children Lorelei, seven, and Dexter, four, without parents.

'I promised Regan I'd bring those kids up...' Sister of murdered mum vows to adopt her children

TIPPERARY: 6.00 Beyond Dance, 6.30 Kattani, 7.00 Lorelei Rok, 7.30 That's Mad, 8.00 Show Must Go On, 8.30 Cork Harbour.

THE LAIRD'S TOP TIPS

In the Soviet territory, young school teacher Jane fights back when her husband is arrested for the murder of his first wife Lorelei, a glamorous star of Marxist propaganda films.

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