Lyre-Player
/ˈlaɪər ˌpleɪər/noun
A person who plays the lyre, a stringed musical instrument of the ancient Mediterranean and later traditions.
Did you know?In Greek myth, Orpheus’s lyre-playing was powerful enough to enchant animals, trees, stones, and even the rulers of the underworld.
Etymological Timeline
2nd Millennium BCE
Mycenaean Greek
𐀪𐀒𐀩𐀊 (possibly ru-ra-ta-e)
“A debated Linear B form possibly connected with the lyre; its identification is not certain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λύρα (lýra)
“Lyre, a plucked stringed instrument.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λυρικός (lyrikós)
“Of or relating to the lyre; later, lyrical or suited to song.”
Classical Latin
Latin
lyra
“Lyre; a stringed musical instrument adopted from Greek.”
12th–14th Century
Middle English
lyre
“Lyre, a stringed instrument; borrowed through French and Latin forms.”
Old English to Modern English
English
plegian → play
“To exercise, move about, or engage in amusement; later, to perform music.”
Modern English
English
lyre-player
“A person who plays the lyre.”