arethusa

[ ar-uh-thoo-zuh ]

/ ˌær əˈθu zə /

noun

Also called dragon's mouth, swamp pink. an orchid, Arethusa bulbosa, of eastern North America, having a solitary pink flower with a blotched, fringed lip: now rare.

(initial capital letter) Classical Mythology. a nymph who was changed into a spring to save her when she was being pursued by the river god Alpheus.

Nearby words

areostyle, arepa, arequipa, ares, arete, arethusa, aretino, aretino, pietro, aretinus, guido, arezzo, arf

Origin of arethusa

1810–20; (< New Latin) < Greek Aréthousa

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for arethusa

Arethusa propped her elbows on the high counter, and rested her chin on them so she could regard his work.
The Heart of Arethusa|Francis Barton Fox
"Don't seem to see you dancing much with the fair Arethusa," he said.
The Heart of Arethusa|Francis Barton Fox
But no other was needed, for the chauffeur knew who it was with Arethusa, and all about him.
The Heart of Arethusa|Francis Barton Fox
A few sweat-bees buzzed half-heartedly about her head, but Arethusa did not even trouble to brush them away.
The Heart of Arethusa|Francis Barton Fox

But Miss Asenath, alone of all of them who loved her, dimly guessed at Arethusa's real trouble.
The Heart of Arethusa|Francis Barton Fox

British Dictionary definitions for arethusa (1 of 2)

arethusa

/ (ˌærɪˈθjuːzə) /

noun

a North American orchid, Arethusa bulbosa, having one long narrow leaf and one rose-purple flower fringed with yellow

British Dictionary definitions for arethusa (2 of 2)

Arethusa

/ (ˌærɪˈθjuːzə) /

noun

Greek myth a nymph who was changed into a spring on the island of Ortygia to escape the amorous advances of the river god Alpheus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012