Hypertext Webster Gateway: "harp"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Harp
(Heb. kinnor), the national instrument of the Hebrews. It was
invented by Jubal (Gen. 4:21). Some think the word _kinnor_
denotes the whole class of stringed instruments. It was used as
an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulness as well as of praise
to God (Gen. 31:27; 1 Sam. 16:23; 2 Chr. 20:28; Ps. 33:2;
137:2).
In Solomon's time harps were made of almug-trees (1 Kings
10:11, 12). In 1 Chr. 15:21 mention is made of "harps on the
Sheminith;" Revised Version, "harps set to the Sheminith;"
better perhaps "harps of eight strings." The soothing effect of
the music of the harp is referred to 1 Sam. 16:16, 23; 18:10;
19:9. The church in heaven is represented as celebrating the
triumphs of the Redeemer "harping with their harps" (Rev. 14:2).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Harp \Harp\, n. [OE. harpe, AS. hearpe; akin to D. harp, G.
harfe, OHG. harpha, Dan. harpe, Icel. & Sw. harpa.]
1. A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame
furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held
upright, and played with the fingers.
2. (Astron.) A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.
3. A grain sieve. [Scot.]
{[AE]olian harp}. See under {[AE]olian}.
{Harp seal} (Zo["o]l.), an arctic seal ({Phoca
Gr[oe]nlandica}). The adult males have a light-colored
body, with a harp-shaped mark of black on each side, and
the face and throat black. Called also {saddler}, and
{saddleback}. The immature ones are called {bluesides}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Harp \Harp\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Harped}p. pr. & vb. n.
{Harping}.] [AS. hearpian. See {Harp}, n.]
1. To play on the harp.
I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their
harps. --Rev. xiv. 2.
2. To dwell on or recur to a subject tediously or
monotonously in speaking or in writing; to refer to
something repeatedly or continually; -- usually with on or
upon. ``Harpings upon old themes.'' --W. Irving.
Harping on what I am, Not what he knew I was.
--Shak.
{To harp on one string}, to dwell upon one subject with
disagreeable or wearisome persistence. [Collog.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Harp \Harp\, v. t.
To play on, as a harp; to play (a tune) on the harp; to
develop or give expression to by skill and art; to sound
forth as from a harp; to hit upon.
Thou 'harped my fear aright. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
harp
n 1: a chordophone that has a triangular frame consisting of a
sounding board and a pillar and a curved neck; the
strings stretched between the neck and the soundbox are
plucked with the fingers
2: a pair of curved vertical supports for a lampshade
3: a small rectangular free-reed instrument having a row of
free reeds set back in air holes and played by blowing
into the desired hole [syn: {harmonica}, {mouth organ}, {mouth
harp}]
v 1: come back to; "Don't dwell on the past" [syn: {dwell}]
2: play the harp
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