Xanthippe

Meaning

Noun

• An ill-tempered woman.

Origin

• Borrowed from Latin Xanthippē or its etymon Ancient Greek Ξανθίππη, the name of Socrates’ wife, from ξανθός (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱas-) + ἵππος (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eḱ-). She is described as shrewish in Xenophon’s Symposium, though the same work states that Socrates chose her precisely because of her argumentative spirit. In Xenophon’s Memorabilia and Phaedo by Plato she is depicted as a devoted wife and mother.