Danaid
(ˈdæneɪɪd)
[In Fr. Danaide, ad. Gr. Δαναίς, pl. Δαναίδες, the Danaides or daughters of Danaus king of Argos, who, having murdered their husbands on the wedding-night, were condemned eternally to pour water into bottomless or sieve-like vessels.]
a. A daughter of Danaus; used attrib. in reference to the labour of the Danaides: endless and futile. So Danaïˈdean a.; and ˈDanaus used attrib.
| a 1628 F. Greville Sidney (1652) 62 A Danaus sive of prodigality. 1884 Century Mag. Mar. 704 The crew are worn out with their Danaidean task. |
b. = danaine.
| 1881 S. H. Scudder Butterflies with Ref. Amer. Forms 298 Tribe Festivi Fabricius [Danaides Boisd.] Danaids. 1892 W. L. Distant Naturalist in Transvaal 65 The female Hypolimnas being present with the Danaids. 1936 Discovery July 212/2 Danaids and various Nymphalids. 1937 H. D. Peile Guide Coll. Butterflies of India 76 The females of this genus [sc. Pareronia] appear to be mimics of common blue and black Danaids. 1957 M. A. Wynter-Blyth Butterflies of Indian Region vi. 63 The Danaids are chiefly a tropical and sub-tropical family. |