daphne
daphne Lexical Profile
daphne Game Scores & Validity
• noun
In Greek mythology, a naiad or nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape the persistent affections of the god Apollo.
"According to the ancient myth, Apollo adopted the laurel wreath as his sacred symbol only after Daphne had been transformed into the tree."
Any of various Eurasian shrubs of the genus Daphne, widely cultivated for their clusters of heavily fragrant, tubular flowers and small, highly poisonous berries.
"The gardener planted a winter daphne near the entrance so visitors could enjoy its sweet, intense fragrance in late winter."
• Rhymes for daphne
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Greek 'daphnē', meaning 'laurel'. The shrub genus is named after the Greek mythological nymph Daphne, who was transformed into a laurel tree by her father, a river god, to escape the amorous pursuit of Apollo.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.