In Greek mythology, a tree nymph whose life is inextricably bound to a specific tree; also, a large venomous snake native to Southeast Asia.
From Greek hama (together) and dryás (oak tree nymph), literally meaning 'together-tree.' The term reflects the mythological belief that the nymph and tree were one living entity. The snake name transferred because of its habitat in dense forests.
Hamadryads were the most tragic nymphs in Greek mythology—if their tree died, they died too, making them symbols of nature's fragility. Today, the word applies to one of the world's longest venomous snakes, which hunts in the forests where those ancient mythological trees once grew.
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