Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Daphne

Daph′ne

,
Noun.
[L., a laurel tree, from Gr.
δάφνη
.]
1.
(Bot.)
A genus of diminutive Shrubs, mostly evergreen, and with fragrant blossoms.
2.
(Myth.)
A nymph of Diana, fabled to have been changed into a laurel tree.

Definition 2024


Daphne

Daphne

See also: daphne and Daphnë

Translingual

Wikispecies

Proper noun

Daphne f

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Thymelaeaceae – the daphnes, Old World shrubs with scented flowers and poisonous berries.

Hypernyms

Hyponyms


English

Alternative forms

Proper noun

Daphne

  1. (Greek mythology) A dryad pursued by Apollo, who was turned into a laurel tree by the river god Peneus.
    • 1594 William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream: Act II, Scene I :
      Run when you will, the story shall be chang'd; / Apollo flies, and Daphne holds the chase; / The dove pursues the griffin
  2. (astronomy) Short for 41 Daphne, a main belt asteroid.
  3. A female given name.
    • 1989 John Banville: The Book of Evidence: page 7:
      My wife. Daphne. Yes, that was, is, her name. For some reason people have always found it faintly comic. I think it matches very well her damp, dark, myopic beauty.

Translations


Portuguese

Proper noun

Daphne f

  1. Archaic spelling of Dafne.

daphne

daphne

See also: Daphne and Daphnë

English

Daphne pontica

Wikispecies

Noun

daphne (plural daphnes)

  1. (botany) Any one of least 50 species of shrub in the genus Daphne of the family Thymelaeaceae , some of which are grown as ornamentals.

Translations