Niobe

noun

Ni·​o·​be ˈnī-ə-bē How to pronounce Niobe (audio)
: a daughter of Tantalus and wife of Amphion who while weeping for her slain children is turned into a stone from which her tears continue to flow

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Niobē

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Niobe was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Niobe

Cite this Entry

“Niobe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Niobe. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Niobe

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!