naiad

[ ney-ad, -uhd, nahy- ]

noun

, plural nai·ads, nai·a·des [ney, -, uh, -deez, nahy, -].

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) Classical Mythology. 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, especially an expert one.
4. Botany. a plant of the genus Najas, having narrow leaves and solitary flowers.
5. Entomology. an aquatic nymph.
6. a freshwater mussel.

naiad

/ ˈnaɪæd /

noun

1. Greek myth a nymph dwelling in a lake, river, spring, or fountain
2. the aquatic larva of the dragonfly, mayfly, and related insects
3. Also calledwater nymph any monocotyledonous submerged aquatic plant of the genus Naias (or Najas ), having narrow leaves and small flowers: family Naiadaceae (or Najadaceae )
4. any of certain freshwater mussels of the genus Unio See mussel

Word History and Origins

Origin of naiad¹

< Latin Nāïad- (stem of Nāïas ) < Greek Nāïás a water nymph

Word History and Origins

Origin of naiad¹

C17: via Latin from Greek nāias water nymph; related to náein to flow

Example Sentences

First, a naiad is a water nymph in Greek myth—a woman who looked over the waterways.

From The Daily Beast

If you look in the dictionary today, it says “naiad: any skillful female wimmer.”

From The Daily Beast

As for the Hebe and the Naiad, they had vanished in the northern board, and as yet there were no signs of their return.

From Project Gutenberg

One day, while looking into a quiet stream, he thought he saw a lovely naiad in the water gazing up at him.

From Project Gutenberg

Like some of our own pellucid waters, it is a Naiad of the purest kind, sleeping on coral and crystal couches.

From Project Gutenberg

On seeing her, Saldaa thought of a naiad of the North, rising from an emerald river, in which cakes of ice were floating.

From Project Gutenberg

What was my surprise, and I almost say my joy, when I saw that the white figure was my naiad?

From Project Gutenberg