hydra
UK[ˈhaɪdrə]US[ˈhaɪdrə]
n
a small, simple freshwater animal with a tubular body and tentacles around the mouth.
n
(often capitalized) a many-headed serpent in greek mythology that grew two new heads for each one cut off.
n
a persistent or multifaceted problem that is difficult to solve.
Morpheme Breakdown
hydr
a
hydr
water
a
noun suffix
Etymology
the word hydra is a direct borrowing from latin, which itself came from the greek 'hydra', meaning 'water serpent'. this greek term is derived from 'hydōr', the ancient greek word for water, reflecting the creature's mythical association with the marshy lake of lerna. the semantic connection flows from the literal 'water creature' to describe a specific regenerative monster, and finally extends metaphorically in modern english to any problem that seems to regrow or multiply when attacked. the core logic of the word, from its proto-indo-European root wed- (water, wet), consistently ties the concept to a watery origin, even in its abstract contemporary usage.
Analysis
Structure: hydr (water) + a (noun suffix)
hydr originates from greek 'hydōr' (water). it functions as a root indicating a relationship to water. the suffix -a is a common greek and latin noun-forming suffix.
Examples
under the microscope, the hydra extended its tentacles to capture a tiny water flea.
hercules' second labor was to slay the monstrous hydra of lerna.
corruption in the department proved to be a hydra; solving one case only revealed two more.