nereid

¹

[ neer-ee-id ]

noun

1. any elongate cylindrical worm of the polychaete family Nereididae, including clamworms.

adjective

1. of or relating to the family Nereididae.

Nereid

²

[ neer-ee-id ]

noun

1. (sometimes lowercase) Classical Mythology. any of the 50 daughters of Nereus; a sea nymph.
2. Astronomy. a moon of the planet Neptune.

Nereid

¹

/ ˈnɪərɪɪd /

noun

1. Greek myth any of the 50 sea nymphs who were the daughters of the sea god Nereus

Nereid

²

/ ˈnɪərɪɪd /

noun

1. a satellite of the planet Neptune, in a large and highly eccentric orbit

Word History and Origins

Origin of nereid¹

1830–40; < New Latin Nereididae family name; Nereid, -idae

Origin of nereid²

< Latin Nērēid- (stem of Nērēis ) < Greek, stem of Nērēís. See Nereus, -id ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of nereid¹

C17: via Latin from Greek Nērēid, from Nereus ; compare Latin nāre to swim

Example Sentences

A fresco bearing an image of a Nereid nymph riding a seahorse and gladiators in combat had been unearthed previously.

From The Guardian

The Krewe of Nereids and the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland announced earlier this month they were canceling the Nereids’ Parade.

From Washington Times

They had fifty lovely daughters, the nymphs of the Sea, called Nereids from their father’s name, one of whom, Thetis, was the mother of Achilles.

From Literature

Asked how it felt to be older than the Nereids club, Sands replied, “It feels great, but I’ve lost so many good friends. So many have passed away.”

From Washington Times

He’s frankly envious that the 71-year-old dead man, so near his age, “had gotten to lie next to this beauty night after night, like Gandhi among his Nereids.”

From New York Times