hamadryad

Definitions

1. A wood-nymph who was physically a part of her tree; she would die if her tree were felled.
   Greek
2. A king cobra.
3. A baboon of species Papio hamadryas, venerated by the ancient Egyptians.
4. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Hamadryas and Tellervo.

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“The various supports, rafters, braces and plates are of pandanus logs of a rich oily brown, and make⟳ one think⟳ of a sylvan cathedral where hamadryads might very well dance⟳, where Syrinx might be chased by Pan, Daphne by Apollo, and various other heathen rites take⟳ place⟳ in the dark hours before the dawn.”

CEFR level