armida
|ar-mi-da|
🇺🇸
/ɑrˈmiːdə/
🇬🇧
/ɑːˈmiːdə/
(Armida)
literary enchantress; female given name
Etymology
'Armida' originates in Italian literary usage, first attested as the name of a character in Torquato Tasso's late-16th-century epic 'Gerusalemme liberata'.
'Armida' was created (or popularized) in Tasso's Italian epic and later adopted as the name/title of characters in various European operas and adaptations, becoming a proper name in later usage.
Initially it referred specifically to a fictional Saracen enchantress in Tasso's poem; over time it has also come to be used simply as a female given name and as an operatic role name.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a female given name, used in several European languages (often capitalized as 'Armida').
Armida is a relatively rare female name in modern usage.
Noun 2
a fictional enchantress or sorceress appearing in Torquato Tasso's epic poem Gerusalemme liberata (late 16th century).
In Tasso's poem, Armida enchants crusaders and plays a central role in several episodes.
Synonyms
Noun 3
the title or central female role in various operas and musical settings inspired by Tasso's character (used as an operatic role name across 17th–19th century works).
Several composers set the story of Armida to music, making 'Armida' a recurring operatic role.
Last updated: 2025/10/16 09:28