What does "hamadryad" mean?
A wood-nymph who was physically a part of her tree; she would die if her tree were felled.
Hamadryad
/hæməˈdɹaɪæd/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A wood-nymph who was physically a part of her tree; she would die if her tree were felled.
- Grammar: hamadryad is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: dryad, forest spirit, hyades, king cobra.
- Usage evidence: The hamadryades have gone, like the golden fancies of which they were engendered—morning dreams of a young world scarce awake, but full of freshness and beauty. Yet often will the thought, or rather the fancy, come across me, that this wailing but most musical noise—heard in the dim evening, when every tree has a separate sound like a separate instrument, and every leaf a differing tone like the differing notes—is the piteous lament of some nymph pent within the gray and mossy trunk whence she may never more emerge in visible loveliness.
How to use "hamadryad"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hamadryad" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hamadryad" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "hamadryad" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A wood-nymph who was physically a part of her tree; she would die if her tree were felled. Greek
"The hamadryades have gone, like the golden fancies of which they were engendered—morning dreams of a young world scarce awake, but full of freshness and beauty. Yet often will the thought, or rather the fancy, come across me, that this wailing but most musical noise—heard in the dim evening, when every tree has a separate sound like a separate instrument, and every leaf a differing tone like the differing notes—is the piteous lament of some nymph pent within the gray and mossy trunk whence she may never more emerge in visible loveliness."
- 2 large cobra of southeastern Asia and the East Indies; the largest venomous snake; sometimes placed in genus Naja wordnet
- 3 A king cobra.
- 4 the nymph or spirit of a particular tree wordnet
- 5 A baboon of species Papio hamadryas, venerated by the ancient Egyptians.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Hamadryas and Tellervo.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The hamadryades have gone, like the golden fancies of which they were engendered—morning dreams of a young world scarce awake, but full of freshness and beauty. Yet often will the thought, or rather the fancy, come across me, that this wailing but most musical noise—heard in the dim evening, when every tree has a separate sound like a separate instrument, and every leaf a differing tone like the differing notes—is the piteous lament of some nymph pent within the gray and mossy trunk whence she may never more emerge in visible loveliness."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hamadryad"?
Common synonyms include: dryad, forest spirit, hyades, king cobra, naja hannah, nature spirit.
How do you use "hamadryad" in a sentence?
The hamadryades have gone, like the golden fancies of which they were engendered—morning dreams of a young world scarce awake, but full of freshness and beauty. Yet often will the thought, or rather the fancy, come across me, that this wailing but most musical noise—heard in the dim evening, when every tree has a separate sound like a separate instrument, and every leaf a differing tone like the differing notes—is the piteous lament of some nymph pent within the gray and mossy trunk whence she may never more emerge in visible loveliness.
How do you pronounce "hamadryad"?
Pronounced /hæməˈdɹaɪæd/.
Etymology
From Latin Hamadryas, from Ancient Greek Ἁμαδρυάς (Hamadruás), from ἅμα (háma, “together”) + δρῦς (drûs, “tree”).