naiad

naiad
/nay"ad, -euhd, nuy"-/, n., pl. naiads, naiades /-euh deez'/.
1. (sometimes cap.) Class. Myth. any of a class of nymphs presiding over rivers and springs.
2. the juvenile form of the dragonfly, damselfly, or mayfly.
3. a female swimmer, esp. an expert one.
4. Bot. a plant of the genus Najas, having narrow leaves and solitary flowers.
5. Entomol. an aquatic nymph.
6. a freshwater mussel.
[ < L Naïad- (s. of Naïas) < Gk Naïás a water nymph]

* * *

      (from Greek naiein, “to flow”), in Greek mythology, one of the nymphs of flowing water—springs, rivers, fountains, lakes. The Naiads, appropriately in their relation to freshwater, were represented as beautiful, lighthearted, and beneficent. Like the other classes of nymphs, they were extremely long-lived, although not immortal.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат
Synonyms:


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Naiad — Na iad (n[=a] y[a^]d; 277), n. [L. naias, adis, na[ i]s, idis, a water nymph, Gr nai:a s, nai: s, fr. na ein to flow: cf. F. na[ i]ade. Cf. {Naid}.] 1. (Myth.) A water nymph; one of the lower female divinities, fabled to preside over some body of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Naiad — Naiad,   ein Mond des Planeten Neptun …   Universal-Lexikon

  • naiad — (n.) water nymph, c.1600, from L. Nais, Naias (gen. naiadis), from Gk. Naias (pl. Naiades) river nymph, from naiein to flow, from PIE *naw yo , suffixed form of root * (s)nau to swim, flow, let flow (see NUTRIMENT (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • naiad — ► NOUN (pl. naiads or naiades) ▪ (in classical mythology) a water nymph. ORIGIN Greek Naias, from naein to flow …   English terms dictionary

  • naiad — [nā′ad΄, nī′ad΄; nā′əd, nīəd] n. pl. naiads or naiades [nā′ə dēz΄] [Fr naïade < L Naias (gen. Naiadis) < Gr Naias (pl. Naïades) < naein, to flow < IE base * (s)na , to flow > L natare, to swim] 1. [also N ] Gr. & Rom. Myth. any of… …   English World dictionary

  • Naiad — For other uses, see Naiad (disambiguation). A Naiad by John William Waterhouse, 1893; a water nymph approaches the sleeping Hylas. In Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades (Ναϊάδες from the Greek νάειν, to flow, and νᾶμα, running water ) were a… …   Wikipedia

  • Naiad — III Naiad Naiad auf einer Aufnahme der Raumsonde Voyager 2 Zentralkörper Neptun Eigenschaften des Orbits …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • naiad — nymph ymph (n[i^]mf), n. [L. nympha nymph, bride, young woman, Gr. ny mfh: cf. F. nymphe. Cf. {Nuptial}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Class. Myth.) A goddess of the mountains, forests, meadows, or waters. [1913 Webster] Where were ye, nymphs, when the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • naiad — noun (plural naiads or naiades) Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French naïade, from Latin naiad , naias, from Greek, from nan to flow more at nourish Date: 14th century 1. any of the nymphs in classical mythology… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • naiad — [ nʌɪad] noun (plural naiads or naiades nʌɪəˌdi:z) 1》 (in classical mythology) a nymph inhabiting a river, spring, or waterfall. 2》 the aquatic larva of a dragonfly, mayfly, or stonefly. 3》 an aquatic plant with narrow leaves and minute flowers.… …   English new terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”