xanthippe
Definition
- Noun:
- A shrewish or ill-tempered woman: "xanthippe" refers to a woman who is quarrelsome, nagging, or difficult to please. It is derived from the name of Socrates’ wife, who was historically portrayed as a scold.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The old man complained that his neighbor was a real xanthippe, always shouting at the children. (A quarrelsome woman who is constantly angry.)
- In literature, the character of the shrew is often compared to a xanthippe. (An ill-tempered woman in a dramatic role.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be a xanthippe": to be a woman of a harsh or nagging disposition.
- She was known as the village xanthippe, forever scolding the shopkeepers. (She was infamous for her bad temper.)
Variants and Related Words
- Xanthippic (adj): relating to or characteristic of a shrewish woman.
- Her xanthippic outbursts drove everyone away. (Her nagging, ill-tempered behavior.)
Synonyms
- Shrew: a woman with a violent, scolding, or nagging temperament.
- Termagant: a harsh-tempered or overbearing woman.
- Virago: a woman of great strength or spirit, often used pejoratively for a noisy, scolding woman.
Related Idioms
- Socrates’ wife: a cultural reference to a nagging or difficult spouse.
- He joked that his boss was like Socrates’ wife, always finding fault. (A reference to the historical xanthippe.)
Etymology
- From Greek: "Xanthippe" (Ξανθίππη) was the name of the wife of the philosopher Socrates, who was depicted as a quarrelsome woman in ancient writings. The term entered English as a generic label for a scolding wife.