Dictionary

oread en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɔːɹi.æd/

Etymology

From Latin Orēas, Orēadis, from Ancient Greek Ὀρειάς (Oreiás), from ὄρος (óros, “mountain”).

Meanings

1. (Greek) A mountain nymph; an anthropomorphic appearance of the spirit of a mountain.
   • The imprisoned ringlets are emancipated; 'fresh as the oread from the forest fountain,' you descend—you breathe the incense of the chocolate—not more I hope—and grow conversational and confidential over the green tea, which, with a fragrance beyond all the violets of April, rises to your lip, 'giving and taking odours.' 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XI, in Romance and Reality. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 92:
   • Under the various appellations of Oreades, Dryades, Naiades, Limniades, Nereides, they dwelt in mountains, trees, springs, lakes, the sea, where, in caverns and grottos, they passed a life whose occupations resembled those of females of human race. 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume II, London: William Harrison Ainsworth:

Forms

Hyponyms

Echo

Translations (12)

fr oréade (mythology: minor mountain deity) · grc Ὀρειάς (mythology: minor mountain deity) · pt oréade (mythology: minor mountain deity) · de Oreade (mythology: minor mountain deity) · bg ореада (mythology: minor mountain deity) · el ορεάδα (mythology: minor mountain deity) · la Orēas (mythology: minor mountain deity) · it oreade (mythology: minor mountain deity) · ca orèada (mythology: minor mountain deity) · ang beorgælfen (mythology: minor mountain deity) · ja オレイアス (mythology: minor mountain deity) · es oréade (mythology: minor mountain deity)