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Glite Dictionary
Oceanid

Oceanid

9.9
A sea nymph, a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys
  • noun
  • /ˈoʊʃənɪd/
  • Literature
translation icon : océanide
  • The painting depicted an Oceanid rising from the water, surrounded by shells and seaweed.

Examples

  • Many poets have described the grace and beauty of the mythical Oceanids.

  • In mythology, an Oceanid represents beauty and grace.

  • In the ancient tales, each Oceanid had her own stream, fountain, or cloud to guard.

  • The Oceanid emerged from the waves.

  • In Greek mythology, an Oceanid is depicted as a beautiful nymph emerging from the waves.

  • Several Oceanids are known to have nurtured sailors and helped guide them through treacherous waters.

  • The ancient texts describe the Oceanids as daughters of Oceanus and Tethys, embodying the spirit of the sea.

Synonyms

sea nymph
vsOceanid
  • Literature
1 9.9

A female spirit of the sea who helps sailors

is a specific daughter of Oceanus and Tethys rather than any sea spirit

Surface Forms

Oceanid singular
Oceanids plural

Morphology

Oceanid = ocean (semi-transparent) = ocean + id

The relation to 'ocean' is clear, but the suffix '-id' (denoting a descendant/member) is not productive in everyday English and the specific mythological sense 'sea nymph' may not be obvious to learners.

Etymology

Oceanid comes from Oceanus, the great sea in Greek stories, and is related to our everyday word ocean. The ending -id means 'child of', so an Oceanid is a 'child of the ocean' — a sea nymph, a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys.