Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Philomela
Philˊo-me′la
,Noun.
[L.
philomela
, Gr. φιλομήλα
, according to the legend, from Φιλομήλα
Philomela
(daughter of Pandion
, king of Athens), who was changed into a nightingale.] 1.
The nightingale; philomel.
Shak.
2.
(Zool.)
A genus of birds including the nightingales.
Definition 2024
Philomela
Philomela
English
Alternative forms
- (archaic): Philomel
Proper noun
Philomela
- A female given name, particularly (mythology) the sister of Procne who is raped and mutilated by her brother-in-law Tereus and supposedly transformed into a swallow by the gods.
- (literary zoology, mistakenly) The nightingale.
Latin
Etymology
From Ancient Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomḗlē), composed of roots intending "lover of apples" or "fruit" but folk-etymologized since at least Ovid's time as "lover of song".
Proper noun
Philomela
- A female given name, particularly (mythology) the sister of Procne who is raped and mutilated by her brother-in-law Tereus and supposedly transformed into a swallow by the gods.
- (literary zoology, originally) The swallow.
- (literary zoology, mistakenly) The nightingale.