Philomela

P3H4I1L1O1M3E1L1A1

proper noun

The sister of Procne who is raped and mutilated by her brother-in-law Tereus and supposedly transformed into a bird by the gods.

OriginLatin Philomela ← Ancient Greek Φιλομήλη →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative archaic Philomel

  1. Greekhuman sciencesThe sister of Procne who is raped and mutilated by her brother-in-law Tereus and supposedly transformed into a bird by the gods.
  2. literarybiologyThe nightingale.
  3. A female given name.

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekΦιλομήλη
  2. LatinPhilomela
  3. EnglishPhilomela

From Latin Philomela, from Ancient Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomḗlē), from φίλος (phílos, “love”) + μῆλον (mêlon, “apple; fruit; sheep”), but folk-etymologized since at least Ovid's time as "lover of song".

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French Philomèle
  • Philomèlesister of Procne
Cite this entry
APA

Philomela. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Philomela

MLA

“Philomela.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Philomela. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Philomela,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Philomela.

Source: Philomela on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.