naiades

Variant of naiad

naiad definition

naiad (nā′ad′, nī′-; -əd)

noun pl. naiads -·ads′ or naiades -·a·des′ (-ə dēz′)

  1. Gr. & Rom. Myth. any of the nymphs living in and giving life to springs, fountains, rivers, and lakes
  2. a girl or woman swimmer
  3. Bot. any of a family (Najadaceae, order Najadales) of monocotyledonous, submerged, freshwater plants, with only one genus (Najas), having linear opposite leaves
  4. Zool. the aquatic nymph of certain insects, as the dragonfly and mayfly

Etymology: Fr naïade < L Naias (gen. Naiadis) < Gr Naias (pl. Naïades) < naein, to flow < IE base *(s)na-, to flow > L natare, to swim

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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