Definitions

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

  • noun The daughter of Zeus and Leda and wife of Menelaus, considered to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Her abduction by Paris caused the Trojan War.

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

  • proper noun Greek mythology Helen of Troy, a famous beauty in classical Greek legend.
  • proper noun A female given name.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Greek Helenē; see wel- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek Ἑλένη (Helenē), possibly connected with ἥλιος (hēlios, "sun").

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Examples

  • JACOB HILL, BROTHER OF HELEN HILL: If, in some grotesque way, Helen has become a touchstone to what's happened in New Orleans, then, I didn't want her to be a martyr, but let's -- let's accept that and shed some light on the tragedy that is still happening in New Orleans.

    CNN Transcript Jan 11, 2007 2007

  • "Your Cousin Helen is coming to visit us," said Miss Izzie, curtly, and disappeared into the Blue-room.

    What Katy Did: A Story 1887

  • "No," said Katy, slowly, "I was only thinking – Cousin Helen, is it worldly to have pretty things when you're sick?"

    What Katy Did: A Story 1887

  • Next to the honor of fair Scotland, my counsin Helen is the goddess of my idolatry; and she would forswear my love and kindred, could she believe me capable of feeling otherwise than in unison with Sir William Wallace.

    The Scottish Chiefs 1875

  • With the Chicago-based musician Alison Chesley, who performs intense and unique avant-rock instrumental songs on her cello under the name Helen Money.

    The New Yorker newyorker.com 2011

  • After that comes what I refer to as the "Helen Keller" model.

    Robert Slayton: Having a Sense of Humor About Disability Robert Slayton 2011

  • After that comes what I refer to as the "Helen Keller" model.

    Robert Slayton: Having a Sense of Humor About Disability Robert Slayton 2011

  • Now, let me just make one thing clear: "Helen" is a very heavy film.

    Sundance Review: Ashley Judd’s ‘Helen’ » MTV Movies Blog 2009

  • "No," said Dr. Carr, "it doesn't, because Cousin Helen is half an angel already, and loves other people better than herself.

    What Katy Did: A Story 1887

  • Helen is supposed to have another visitation at the yellow house later today.

    The Snatchback 2009

Comments

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  • Helen's name has even been used as a tongue-in-cheek unit of measurement: if one Helen is so beautiful that she launches a thousand ships, then a millihelen is the unit of beauty required to launch a single ship. Isaac Asimov claimed to have coined the term.

    Natalie Haynes, Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths (New York: Harper Perennial, 2022 (first pub. in UK in 2020)), p. 59, citing Isaac Asimov, Isaac Asimov Laughs Again (New York: Harper-Collins, 1992), p. 200

    November 26, 2022