Tarpeia

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proper noun

A vestal virgin and daughter of Spurius Tarpeius who betrayed Rome to the Sabines by opening the gates of the citadel in exchange for what they wore on their arms; instead, she was crushed to death by their shields.

OriginLatin Tarpeia →
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. Romanhuman sciencesA vestal virgin and daughter of Spurius Tarpeius who betrayed Rome to the Sabines by opening the gates of the citadel in exchange for what they wore on their arms; instead, she was crushed to death by their shields.

Origin

  1. LatinTarpeia
  2. EnglishTarpeia

Borrowed from Latin Tarpeia, from the feminine of Tarpeius.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French Tarpée
  • Tarpéevestal virgin
Italian Tarpea
  • Tarpeavestal virgin
Latin Tarpeia
  • Tarpeiavestal virgin
Polish Tarpeja
  • Tarpejavestal virgin

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

paaritepearita
Cite this entry
APA

Tarpeia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tarpeia

MLA

“Tarpeia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tarpeia. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Tarpeia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tarpeia.

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