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
Translingual
Proper noun
Daphne f
- A taxonomic genus within the family Thymelaeaceae – the daphnes, Old World shrubs with scented flowers and poisonous berries.
Hypernyms
- (genus): Plantae - kingdom; angiosperms, eudicots, core eudicots, rosids, eurosids II - clades; Malvales - order; Thymelaeaceae - family
Hyponyms
- For the numerous species see Daphne on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
English
Alternative forms
Proper noun
Daphne
- (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
- 1594 William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream: Act II, Scene I :
- (astronomy) Short for 41 Daphne, a main belt asteroid.
- 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.
- 1989 John Banville: The Book of Evidence: page 7:
Translations
mythological dryad
Asteroid
daphne
daphne
English
Noun
daphne (plural daphnes)
- (botany) Any one of least 50 species of shrub in the genus Daphne of the family Thymelaeaceae , some of which are grown as ornamentals.