A female advisor or guide, especially a woman who gives counsel to a more powerful person; also, a genus of freshwater plants.
From Latin 'Egeria,' a water nymph in Roman mythology who advised King Numa Pompilius. The botanical genus was named after the mythological figure. The mythological meaning has been used since the Renaissance.
The word captures a fascinating contradiction—Egeria was powerful enough to advise a king, yet history remembered her as the nymph *beneath* him, showing how women advisors were often erased from credit.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.