Philomele

See also: Philomèle and philomèle

Middle French

Etymoly

From Latin Philomela, from Ancient Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomḗlē).

Proper noun

Philomele f

1. (Greek mythology) Philomela (the sister of Procne who is raped and mutilated by her brother-in-law Tereus and supposedly transformed into a bird by the gods)
2. (poetic) nightingale
   • 1597, Pierre de Ronsard, Les œuvres de P. de Ronsard, page 175:

     Les oiſillons tous les iours
     Deuiſoient de leurs amours.
     Là gemiſſoit la tourt’relle,
     Là rouët la colombelle :
     Là Philomele vn long bruit
     Menoit de iour & de nuit,
     Dequoy ſa ſœur outragée
     N’eſtoit pas aſſez vengée :

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

• → English: Philomel
• French: Philomèle