HYDRAE
HYDRA
hydra
(noun) small tubular solitary freshwater hydrozoan polyp
hydra
(noun) trouble that cannot be overcome by a single effort because of its many aspects or its persistent and pervasive quality; “we may be facing a hydra that defies any easy solution”
Hydra, Snake
(noun) a long faint constellation in the southern hemisphere near the equator stretching between Virgo and Cancer
Hydra
(noun) (Greek mythology) monster with nine heads; when struck off each head was replaced by two new ones; “Hydra was slain by Hercules”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Noun
hydrae
plural of hydra
Source: Wiktionary
HYDRA
Hy"dra, n.; pl. E. Hydras, L. Hydræ. Etym: [L. hydra, Gr. "y`dra;
akin to "y`dwr water. See Otter the animal, Water.]
1. (Class. Myth.)
Definition: A serpent or monster in the lake or marsh of Lerna, in the
Peloponnesus, represented as having many heads, one of which, when
cut off, was immediately succeeded by two others, unless the wound
was cauterized. It was slain by Hercules. Hence, a terrible monster.
Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire. Milton.
2. Hence: A multifarious evil, or an evil having many sources; not to
be overcome by a single effort.
3. (Zoöl.)
Definition: Any small fresh-water hydroid of the genus Hydra, usually found
attached to sticks, stones, etc., by a basal sucker.
Note: The body is a simple tube, having a mouth at one extremity,
surrounded by a circle of tentacles with which it captures its prey.
Young hydras bud out from the sides of the older ones, but soon
become detached and are then like their parent. Hydras are remarkable
for their power of repairing injuries; for if the body be divided in
pieces, each piece will grow into a complete hydra, to which fact the
name alludes. The zooids or hydranths of marine hydroids are
sometimes called hydras.
4. (Astron.)
Definition: A southern constellation of great length lying southerly from
Cancer, Leo, and Virgo.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition