naiad /ˈnʌɪad 
/ ▸ noun (plural naiads)
(plural or
naiades /ˈnʌɪəˌdiːz/) 1 (in classical mythology) a water nymph said to inhabit a river, spring, or waterfall. 2 the aquatic larva or nymph of a dragonfly, mayfly, or stonefly. 3 a submerged aquatic plant with narrow leaves and minute flowers. Genus Najas, family Najadaceae.
– ORIGIN via Latin from Greek Naias, Naiad-, from naein ‘to flow’. Use as a term in entomology and botany dates from the early 20th century.
EnglishOxford Dictionary of English
