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Glite Dictionary
🌱 An aquatic plant 🧜 A water nymph
naiad

naiad

1 9.9
A female spirit who lives in water places like lakes or springs
  • noun
  • /ˈnaɪæd/
  • Literature
translation icon : naiade
  • A water naiad emerges from a woodland brook for some sexy fun with Hylas (J.W. Waterhouse, 1893).

Examples

  • And with a naiad, for the sake of Olympus.

    Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)

  • The Italian Naiads or Nireds reared a tomb for him.

  • In Greek mythology, the naiad is often depicted as a beautiful nymph who dwells in the rivers and springs.

  • The legend spoke of a naiad who could heal anyone who bathed in her sacred waters.

  • Stories of naiads fascinatingly intertwine with tales of ancient heroes and their quests near flowing streams.

Synonyms

nymph
vsnaiad
  • Literature
19 8.2

A female spirit of nature often shown as a young beautiful woman

is limited to water locations rather than all natural places
water nymph
vsnaiad
  • Literature
1 9.9

A female spirit that lives in rivers, lakes, or springs

is specific to Greek mythology rather than general myth or literature

Compounds

naiad family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of water plants with thin leaves and small flowers found in lakes and ponds

Surface Forms

naiad singular
naiads plural

Etymology

Naiad comes from ancient Greek and originally meant a 'water nymph', a female spirit of springs, rivers, and lakes. That's why a naiad in myths is a water spirit who lives in and watches over fresh water.