conferva

[kon-fur-vuh]

noun

plural

confervae, confervas 

1. any simple filamentous green algae, many of which were formerly classified in the genus Conferva.

conferva

/ kɒnˈfɜːvə /

noun

1. any of various threadlike green algae, esp any of the genus Tribonema, typically occurring in fresh water

Other Word Forms

• conferval adjective
• confervoid adjective
• confervous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conferva¹

1630–40; < Latin: a certain water plant supposed to heal wounds, akin to confervēre to grow together, heal ( con-, fervent )

Word History and Origins

Origin of conferva¹

C18: from Latin: a water plant, from confervēre to grow together, heal, literally: to seethe, from fervēre to boil; named with reference to its reputed healing properties

Example Sentences

The majority, however, lurk among confervae or the light d�bris of the bottom ooze; and come under the head of “sapropelic” rather than pelagic organisms.

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Our mass of conferva turns out to contain one of the most elegant species.

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Microscopic animals produced from all vegetable and animal infusions; generate others like themselves by solitary reproduction; not produced from eggs; conferva fontinalis; mucor.

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Are they of the class of the ulvae, confervae, or fuci? to be welcomed as old acquaintance, or, hitherto unnoticed, to be added to the catalogue of Nature’s endless stores?

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A clammy conferva covers everything except the mosaics upon tribune, roof, and clerestory, which defy the course of age.

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