arethusa
|a-re-thu-sa|
/əˈrɛθjuːzə/
nymph → spring (proper name)
Etymology
'arethusa' originates from Greek, specifically the name 'Ἀρέθουσα' (Arethousa), the mythological nymph.
'arethusa' passed into Latin and then into English usage from classical and Renaissance texts; the name appears in Latin and later in Middle English and modern English as 'Arethusa'.
Initially it referred specifically to the mythological nymph; over time the name came to be applied to the spring associated with her, and later to ships, places, and literary or cultural uses.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
(proper noun) In Greek mythology, a nymph who fled the river god Alpheus and was transformed into a freshwater spring (the Arethusa) on the island of Ortygia, near Syracuse.
According to the legend, arethusa became a clear spring on the island of Ortygia.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a place name or toponym derived from the mythological figure — for example, the spring called Arethusa in Ortygia, or geographic features named Arethusa (falls, wells, etc.).
Travelers often visit arethusa when exploring the historical sites of Syracuse.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/11 10:42