Lorelei

American  

[lawr-uh-lahy, loh-ruh-lahy] / ˈlɔr əˌlaɪ, ˈloʊ rəˌlaɪ /

noun

1. a quasilegendary nymph of the Rhine who lured sailors to shipwreck on her rock by singing: a creation of Clemens Brentano in a poem of 1800.

2. a female given name.

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Lorelei British  

/ ˈlɒrəˌlaɪ /

noun

1. (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

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Etymology

Origin of Lorelei

< German, variant of Lurlei, cliff overlooking the Rhine, thought to be the abode of a nymph

Example Sentences

The puzzle game Lorelei and the Laser Eyes opens with the protagonist — a well-dressed woman with the solemnity of a catwalk model — inside a forest where boreal owls roam.

From New York Times • May 15, 2024

Lorelei Mathias said: "It's already like a Herculean task to get your medication."

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024

In California, Lorelei Barrett and Athena Ryan qualified for the state preliminary track-and-field championships in May with top-three finishes in the 1600m.

From Washington Times • Jun. 1, 2023

Last weekend, Lorelei Barrett of Sherman Oaks Buckley finished third and Athena Ryan of Santa Rosa Sonoma Academy second in the girls’ 1600-meter races at their respective sectional meets.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2023

And then Lorelei, Andrea, and Eileen had laughed, and even Becky had managed a smirky grin.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies