Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • The wife of Socrates, traditionally described as shrewish and scolding.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An ill-tempered woman.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek Ξανθίππη (Xanthippē), the name of the shrewish wife of Socrates.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Xanthippe.

Examples

  • R.D. Hicks), tells the following anecdote about Socrates and his wife Xanthippe, which is also preserved in other ancient authors:

    Laudator Temporis Acti 2008

  • R.D. Hicks), tells the following anecdote about Socrates and his wife Xanthippe, which is also preserved in other ancient authors:

    Laudator Temporis Acti 2008

  • R.D. Hicks), tells the following anecdote about Socrates and his wife Xanthippe, which is also preserved in other ancient authors:

    Laudator Temporis Acti 2008

  • She feared that her husband's disciples would represent her as another Xanthippe, the shrewish wife of Socrates.

    The Searcher Gary Saul Morson 2011

  • "We had Xanthippe, the wife of Socrates," Frank recalled of one recent puppy.

    Two Animated Dog Sitters Ralph Gardner Jr. 2011

  • Emancipor Reese - married to a woman who gives off an impression that Xanthippe was her kind grandmother, having two kids who are probably not of his own seed and on top of that being followed by a severe case of bad luck - is a character you can't help but sympathise with, even though you never really get attached to him.

    Steven Erikson - Blood Follows (Book Review) 2008

  • Emancipor Reese - married to a woman who gives off an impression that Xanthippe was her kind grandmother, having two kids who are probably not of his own seed and on top of that being followed by a severe case of bad luck - is a character you can't help but sympathise with, even though you never really get attached to him.

    Archive 2008-02-01 2008

  • Xanthippe: I hear there is a HUGE investment going into the upgrades.

    FamilySearch Beta Finds Historical Records On Your Family | Lifehacker Australia 2010

  • Xanthippe: oh i wish i could promote your comment. instead you get a heart click and 7 internets mfusion

    Brain Teasing Games Don’t Boost Your IQ, Study Says | Lifehacker Australia 2010

  • In fact, Xanthippe is described as a difficult woman to say the very least.

    Times are hard... for philosophers... Ann Althouse 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.