Delilah

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dɪˈlaɪlÉ™/

Origin

From Hebrew דלילה‎.

Full definition of Delilah

Proper noun

1. The mistress of Samson who betrayed him to the Philistines.
• Authorized Version : Judges 16:6:And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
2. A beautiful, cunning and treacherous woman; a femme fatale.Though she is something of a Delilah, she is still considered the heroine of the novel.
3. of biblical origin.
• 1919, John Galsworthy, Saint's Progress (Echo Library 2006, ISBN 1847020704), page 104:"Leila!" she said enigmatically. "Have you seen her?" "I went to her flat last week with Dad - he likes her." "Delilah is her real name, you know. All men like her. And Captain Fort is her lover."