Plural of dryad; multiple tree nymphs or wood spirits from Greek and Roman mythology.
The Latin plural form of 'dryad,' derived from Greek 'dryádes' (δρυάδες). Different cultures used different plural forms when adopting this Greek mythological term.
The existence of multiple plural forms ('dryades' vs 'dryads') shows how English borrowed heavily from classical languages and sometimes kept their original plurals, creating confusion—similar to how we say 'phenomena' and 'criteria' instead of 'phenomenons.'
Plural of dryad—inherits the same mythological feminine coding from Greek tradition.
Use 'wood spirits' or 'tree spirits' in gender-neutral contexts; specify 'female dryads' only when the feminine aspect is narratively relevant.
["wood spirits","tree spirits"]
Dryads represent a form of women's spiritual agency in classical literature, embodying connection to nature and autonomy within their forest domains.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.