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harper

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harper¹

  • /ˈhɑː(ɹ)pə(ɹ)/

Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)pə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From Middle English harpere, from Old English hearpere (“harpist, harper”), equivalent to harp + -er. Cognate with Middle Low German harpære (“harper”), German Harfer and Harfner (“harper”).

noun harpers

  1. A harpist, especially one who plays a traditional harp without pedals. The Harpe. […] A harper with his wreſt maye tune the harpe wrong Mys tunying of an Inſtrument ſhal hurt a true ſonge

    Similar: harp-player, harpist

  2. obsolete An old Irish brass coin bearing the emblem of a harp. the harper that was gathered amongst us to pay the piper

Harper²

  • /ˈhɑɹpɚ/ Canada, US

Where it comes from

Inherited from Middle English Harpere.

proper noun Harpers

  1. A surname originating as an occupation for a player of the harp.
  2. A male given name transferred from the surname.
  3. A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage. Two children who were killed in an attack on a Catholic school in Minneapolis have been identified by their parents as Harper Moyski, a "joyful" big sister, and Fletcher Merkel, who loved "any sport that he was allowed to play".
  4. An unincorporated community in Ogle County, Illinois.
  5. An unincorporated community in Decatur County, Indiana.
  6. A minor city in Keokuk County, Iowa.
  7. A city in Harper County, Kansas, named after Sgt. Marion Harper.
  8. An unincorporated community in Magoffin County, Kentucky.
  9. An unincorporated community in St. Clair County, Missouri.
  10. An unincorporated community in Logan County, Ohio.
  11. An unincorporated community in Ross County, Ohio.
  12. A census-designated place in Malheur County, Oregon.
  13. A census-designated place in Gillespie County, Texas.
  14. A ghost town in Carbon County and Duchesne County, Utah.
  15. An unincorporated community in Southworth census-designated place, Kitsap County, Washington.
  16. An unincorporated community in Albany County, Wyoming.
  17. A rural community of Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
  18. A town in Maryland County, Liberia, named after Robert Goodloe Harper.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: harpist, minister, harbor, gleeman, jongleur, troubadour, minstrel, bard, scop, rhapsode, musician, singer, songster, lyrist, chansonnier, balladeer

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Cite this
MLA

"harper." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/harper. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

harper. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/harper

Chicago

"harper." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/harper.

BibTeX
@misc{harper_2026,
  title = {harper},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/harper},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}