Nearby Words
noun, plural -dras, -drae 
[-dree] for 1–3, genitive -drae [-dree] for 4.
[-dree] for 1–3, genitive -drae [-dree] for 4. 1.
(often initial capital letter) Classical Mythology. a water or marsh serpent with nine heads, each of which, if cut off, grew back as two; Hercules killed this serpent by cauterizing the necks as he cut off the heads.
2.
any freshwater polyp of the genus Hydra and related genera, having a cylindrical body with a ring of tentacles surrounding the mouth, and usually living attached to rocks, plants, etc., but also capable of detaching and floating in the water.
3.
a persistent or many-sided problem that presents new obstacles as soon as one aspect is solved.
4.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the Sea Serpent, a large southern constellation extending through 90° of the sky, being the longest of all constellations.
Origin:
1325–75; < Latin < Greek hýdrā water serpent (replacing Middle English ydre < Middle French < L); see otter
1325–75; < Latin < Greek hýdrā water serpent (replacing Middle English ydre < Middle French < L); see otter
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Hydra
is always a great word to know.
So is aegis. Does it mean:
| a Titan who taught humans various arts, said to have shaped humans out of clay and who stole fire from Olympus for humans in defiance of Zeus |
| the shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena, bearing at its center the head of the Gorgon |
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
hydra
1835, genus name of a freshwater polyp, from Gk. Hydra, many-headed Lernaean water serpent slain by Hercules (this sense is attested in Eng. from late 14c.), from hydor (gen. hydatos) "water" (see water (n.1)); related to Skt. udrah "aquatic animal" and O.E. ottur "otter."
EXPANDUsed figuratively for "any multiplicity of evils" [Johnson].
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
| hydra (hī'drə) Pronunciation Key
Plural hydras or hydrae (hī'drē) See under hydroid. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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