sea-maid

A sea-maid sits on a rock combing her long hair.

Definition

1. Noun (chiefly poetic):
   • A mermaid: "sea-maid" refers to a mythical female creature with the upper body of a human and the tail of a fish, living in the sea.
   • A sea nymph or water spirit: In mythology and poetry, "sea-maid" can also denote a female deity or spirit associated with the ocean.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The ancient sailors told tales of a beautiful sea-maid who sang to them from the rocks. (A mythical mermaid.)
  • In the poem, the sea-maid emerged from the waves to guide the lost ship. (A water spirit or nymph.)

Advanced Usage

• "sea-maid's song": a poetic phrase referring to the enchanting or dangerous allure of a mermaid's voice.
  • The mariner heard the sea-maid's song and was drawn toward the treacherous reef. (The mermaid's captivating singing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sea-maiden (n): an alternative form of "sea-maid," meaning a mermaid or sea nymph.
  • The folklore described a sea-maiden who granted wishes to kind-hearted fishermen. (A female sea spirit.)

Synonyms

• Mermaid: a mythical sea creature with a human head and torso and a fish's tail.
• Nereid: a sea nymph in Greek mythology, often depicted as a beautiful woman.
• Siren: in mythology, a creature that lures sailors with its song; sometimes confused with a mermaid.

Related Idioms

• Like a sea-maid: used poetically to describe someone graceful, mysterious, or connected to the sea.
  • She moved through the crowd like a sea-maid, silent and enchanting. (Graceful and otherworldly.)