Valkyrie
noun /ˈvæl.kɪr.i/ — A Norse warrior maiden who chose the battle-slain
Definition
In Norse mythology, a female figure who chose which warriors would die in battle and which would live — conducting the slain to Valhalla. An image of beautiful, impartial power.
Beyond the definition
Power that decides without feeling. A valkyrie is grace in the service of fate — she doesn't make the decision, she only enacts it.
Origin & history
From Old Norse 'valkyrja' — 'valr' (the slain in battle) + 'kjósa' (to choose). She who chooses the slain.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She moved through the failing organisation like a valkyrie — deciding, quietly, who would survive the cuts.
Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries' gives the mythological warriors their most famous modern image.
There is something both terrifying and comforting about the valkyrie concept: fate has a face, and it is not indifferent.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Valkyrie” when the meaning fits your context: In Norse mythology, a female figure who chose which warriors would die in battle and which would live — conducting the slain to Valhalla. An image of beautiful, impartial power.
Synonyms
battle maiden, warrior woman, fate-chooser
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Valkyrie" mean?
Valkyrie is noun meaning: A Norse warrior maiden who chose the battle-slain. In Norse mythology, a female figure who chose which warriors would die in battle and which would live — conducting the slain to Valhalla. An image of beautiful, impartial power.
Where does the word "Valkyrie" come from?
From Old Norse 'valkyrja' — 'valr' (the slain in battle) + 'kjósa' (to choose). She who chooses the slain.