dryad
2 synonyms for dryad, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In Greek mythology, a female spirit believed to inhabit a tree, often called a wood nymph.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
wood nymph
tree nymph
How to use dryad
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a dryad's tree
wood nymph or dryad
dryad in mythology
Dryad belongs to mythology and fantasy writing rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
Dryad passed into English through Old French driade, from Latin Dryas, which came from Ancient Greek drus, meaning oak. The Greek root ultimately traces to an old word for tree or wood.
Full origin of dryad →Frequently asked questions
What is a dryad?
A dryad is a female nature spirit from Greek mythology who is bound to a particular tree, sometimes called a wood nymph or tree nymph.
Where does the word dryad come from?
It comes from the Ancient Greek word for oak, by way of Latin and Old French, reflecting the tree spirit's close bond with trees.
Is a dryad the same as a nymph?
A dryad is one specific type of nymph, tied to trees, within the broader group of nature spirits called nymphs in Greek mythology.
