Hesperides
[he-
sper
-i-deez]
/hɛˈspɛr ɪˌdiz/
noun
1.
Classical Mythology
.
(
used with a plural verb
) nymphs, variously given as three to seven in number, who guarded with the dragon Ladon the golden apples that were the wedding gift of Gaea to Hera.
(
used with a singular verb
) the garden where the golden apples were grown.
(
used with a plural verb
)
Islands of the Blessed
.
2.
(
italics
) (
used with a plural verb
) a collection of poems (1648) by Robert Herrick.
Origin
see
Hesperus
,
-ides
Related forms
Hesperidian
[hes-p
uh
-
rid
-ee-
uh
n]
/ˌhɛs pəˈrɪd i ən/
(
Show IPA
),
adjective
British Dictionary definitions for
Hesperides
Hesperides
/
hɛˈspɛrɪˌdiːz
/
plural noun
(
Greek myth
)
1.
the daughters of Hesperus, nymphs who kept watch with a dragon over the garden of the golden apples in the Islands of the Blessed
2.
(
functioning as sing
) the gardens themselves
3.
another name for the
Islands of the Blessed
Derived Forms
Hesperidian
(
ˌhɛspəˈrɪdɪən
),
Hesperidean,
adjective