Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Harp
Harp
(härp)
, Noun.
[OE.
harpe
, AS. hearpe
; akin to D. harp
, G. harfe
, OHG. harpha
, Dan. harpe
, Icel. & Sw. harpa
.] 1.
A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held upright, and played with the fingers.
2.
(Astron.)
A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.
3.
A grain sieve.
[Scot.]
Aeolian harp
. See under
Aeolian
.Harp seal
(Zool.)
, an arctic seal (
– Phoca Grœnlandica
). The adult males have a light-colored body, with a harp-shaped mark of black on each side, and the face and throat black. Called also saddler
, and saddleback
. The immature ones are called bluesides
; their fur is white, and they are killed and skinned to harvest the fur. Harp shell
(Zool.)
, a beautiful marine gastropod shell of the genus
Harpa
, of several species, found in tropical seas. See Harpa
.Harp
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Harped
(härpt)
p. pr. & vb. n.
Harping
.] 1.
To play on the harp.
I heard the voice of harpers,
harping
with their harps. Rev. xiv. 2.
2.
To dwell on or recur to a subject tediously or monotonously in speaking or in writing; to refer to something repeatedly or continually; – usually with on or upon.
“Harpings upon old themes.” W. Irving.
Harping
on what I am,Not what he knew I was.
Shakespeare
To harp on one string
, to dwell upon one subject with disagreeable or wearisome persistence.
[Colloq.]
Harp
,Verb.
T.
To play on, as a harp; to play (a tune) on the harp; to develop or give expression to by skill and art; to sound forth as from a harp; to hit upon.
Thou ’st
harped
my fear aright. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Harp
H`ARP
, n.1.
An instrument of music of the stringed kind, of a triangular figure, held upright and commonly touched with the fingers.2.
A constellation.H`ARP
,Verb.
I.
I heard the voice of harpers,harping with their harps. Rev.14.
1.
To dwell on, in speaking or writing; to continue sounding. He seems
Proud and disdainful,harping on what I am--
Not what he knew I was.
2.
To touch as a passion; to affect.