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Hydra
(hī′drə)
- Gr. Myth. the nine-headed serpent slain by Hercules as one of his twelve labors: when any one of its heads is cut off, it is replaced by two others
- a long S constellation between Cancer and Libra: the largest constellation
- any persistent or ever-increasing evil with many sources and causes
- any of a family (Hydridae) of small, freshwater, solitary hydroids having a dominant soft-bodied polyp stage
Origin: ME ydre (< OFr < L), ydra < L Hydra < Gr, water serpent, akin to hydōr, water
See Hydra in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun pl. hy·dras or hy·drae (-drē)
Any of several small freshwater polyps of the genus Hydra and related genera, having a naked cylindrical body and an oral opening surrounded by tentacles.
Origin:
Origin: New Latin Hydra, genus name
Origin: , from Latin Hydra, Hydra; see hydra
.noun
- Greek Mythology The many-headed monster that was slain by Hercules.
- A constellation in the equatorial region of the southern sky near Cancer, Libra, and Centaurus. Also called Snake2.
- A persistent or multifaceted problem that cannot be eradicated by a single effort.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English Idra
Origin: , from Latin Hydra
Origin: , from Greek Hudrā, Hydra, a water serpent; see wed-1 in Indo-European roots
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