Arethusa

noun

Ar·​e·​thu·​sa ˌa-rə-ˈthü-zə How to pronounce Arethusa (audio)
-ˈthyü-,
ˌe-rə-
: a wood nymph who is changed into a spring while fleeing the advances of the river-god Alpheus

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Arethousa

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Arethusa was in 1513

Dictionary Entries Near Arethusa

Cite this Entry

“Arethusa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Arethusa. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Which Came First?

  • baby chick with a brown egg
  • hot take or cold shoulder?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY