(in German legend) a siren, said to dwell on a rock at the edge of the Rhine south of Koblenz, who lures boatmen to destruction
Word origin
C19: from German Lurlei name of the rock; from a poem by Clemens Brentano (1778–1842)
Lorelei in American English
(ˈlɔrəˌlaɪ)
noun
German Mythology
a siren whose singing on a rock in the Rhine lures sailors to shipwreck on the reefs: originally a character in literature
Word origin
Ger, altered by C. Brentano (1778-1842), Ger poet, after Lurlei, name of the rock (prob. lit., “ambush cliff”) < MHG luren, to watch, lower2 + lei, a cliff, rock
Examples of 'Lorelei' in a sentence
Lorelei
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Oddly enough, in the event Lorelei was one of the people I got to hear most about.
Barnard, Robert DEATH IN PURPLE PROSE
Felicity Maxwell had left Lorelei's cigarettes and matches on a little table by the left arm of Lorelei 's chair.
Barnard, Robert DEATH IN PURPLE PROSE
She looked towards where Lorelei Zuckerman was still solidly seated in the body of the hall.
Barnard, Robert DEATH IN PURPLE PROSE
Three weeks after their meeting at the Lorelei, Daniel Salbone and Anne were having breakfast on the outside patio of the Cheeca Lodge.