conferva

[ kon-fur-vuh ]

noun

, plural con·fer·vae [kon-, fur, -vee], con·fer·vas.

1. any simple filamentous green algae, many of which were formerly classified in the genus Conferva.

conferva

/ kɒnˈfɜːvə /

noun

1. any of various threadlike green algae, esp any of the genus Tribonema, typically occurring in fresh water

Derived Forms

• conˈferval, adjective
• conˈfervoid, nounadjective

Other Words From

• con·ferval con·fer·vous [k, uh, n-, fur, -v, uh, s], adjective
• con·fer·void [kon-, fur, -void], adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conferva¹

1630–40; < Latin: a certain water plant supposed to heal wounds, akin to confervēre to grow together, heal ( con-, fervent )

Word History and Origins

Origin of conferva¹

C18: from Latin: a water plant, from confervēre to grow together, heal, literally: to seethe, from fervēre to boil; named with reference to its reputed healing properties

Example Sentences

The majority, however, lurk among confervae or the light d�bris of the bottom ooze; and come under the head of “sapropelic” rather than pelagic organisms.

From Project Gutenberg

Our mass of conferva turns out to contain one of the most elegant species.

From Project Gutenberg

Microscopic animals produced from all vegetable and animal infusions; generate others like themselves by solitary reproduction; not produced from eggs; conferva fontinalis; mucor.

From Project Gutenberg

Are they of the class of the ulvae, confervae, or fuci? to be welcomed as old acquaintance, or, hitherto unnoticed, to be added to the catalogue of Nature’s endless stores?

From Project Gutenberg

A clammy conferva covers everything except the mosaics upon tribune, roof, and clerestory, which defy the course of age.

From Project Gutenberg