Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large venomous snake: A hamadryad is a very large and highly venomous cobra species (Ophiophagus hannah) native to forests in Southeast Asia and parts of the East Indies. It is the world's longest venomous snake.
   • A tree nymph or spirit: In classical mythology, a hamadryad is a nymph who is completely bound to a specific tree, living within it and dying when the tree dies.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Zoological meaning):

  • The king cobra, or hamadryad, can reach lengths of over 18 feet.
  • We were warned about the presence of the deadly hamadryad in the jungle.

• Noun (Mythological meaning):

  • According to the myth, the fate of the hamadryad was intertwined with her oak tree.
  • The poet wrote of a lonely hamadryad weeping for her withering tree.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used in literary and poetic contexts to evoke a deep, inseparable connection between a spirit and nature, often a specific tree.
  • The novel's protagonist felt a bond with the forest, like a modern hamadryad.

Variants and Related Words

• Hamadryads (plural noun): The standard plural form for both meanings.
• Dryad (noun): A more general term for a tree nymph in Greek mythology, not necessarily bound to a single tree. A hamadryad is a specific type of dryad.
• Ophiophagus hannah (noun): The scientific name for the king cobra (hamadryad).

Synonyms

• For the snake: King cobra.
• For the spirit: Tree nymph, wood nymph, dryad (though dryad is a broader term).

Notes on Different Meanings

• The two meanings of "hamadryad" are homographs (spelled the same) but are derived from different etymological roots and refer to entirely different concepts—one zoological, one mythological. Context is essential for understanding which is intended.
• In modern usage, the zoological meaning (king cobra) is more common in scientific and general contexts, while the mythological meaning is primarily found in literature, fantasy, and discussions of classical myth.

Noun

1. large cobra of southeastern Asia and the East Indies; the largest venomous snake; sometimes placed in genus Naja
2. the nymph or spirit of a particular tree