harpy
UK[ˈhɑːpi]US[ˈhɑːrpi]
n
a cruel, greedy, or unpleasant woman.
n
a monster in greek mythology that had the head and upper body of a woman and the wings and claws of a bird.
Etymology
the word 'harpy' entered english in the late 14th century via latin 'harpyia', from the greek 'harpyiai', meaning 'snatchers'. this derives from the verb 'harpazein', to seize, carry off, or snatch, which itself has a possible proto-indo-european root meaning 'to take, grasp'. in greek mythology, the harpies were wind spirits who literally snatched people and things away. the modern figurative sense of a predatory or shrewish woman developed by the 16th century, directly extending the monstrous and rapacious nature of the mythical creatures to human behavior.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from latin, which borrowed it from greek. it is not productively formed from smaller english morphemes.
Examples
the critic was described as a harpy for her vicious and unrelenting attacks.
in the story, the heroes had to navigate past the harpies guarding the cliffs.
his portrayal of his ex-wife as a money-grabbing harpy was widely condemned.