swan maiden

noun

any of a class of folkloric maidens, in many Indo-European and Asian tales, capable of being transformed into swans, as by magic or sorcery.

swan maiden

noun

any of a group of maidens in folklore who by magic are transformed into swans

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of swan maiden¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Here’s another opening: “Once there was a King who had a pear tree which bore four-and-twenty golden pears. Every day he went into the garden and counted them to see that none was missing. But, one morning . . . ” That’s the start of Howard Pyle’s “The Swan Maiden.”

From

One especially prominent swan maiden actually decides to wander back in the direction she came, and at the same tempo.

From

Siegfried in “Swan Lake” is hunting swans when he loses his heart to Odette the swan maiden, beneath the trees and beside the water.

From

Delia Mathews, who also made a notable debut as Odette-Odile this month, commands the attention with a Swan Maiden of serene authority.

From

The ballet’s final act should give us the full drama and beauty of the couple’s sacrifice, magnified by the swan maiden corps.

From

Swan Lake Swanndri

Browse