Hello creamofcards-ga
Thank-you for your question. I have compiled a number of definitions
of the word mermaid below to answer your question.
"A fabled marine creature, typically represented as having the upper
part like that of a woman, and the lower like a fish; a sea nymph, sea
woman, or woman fish."
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=mermaid
"A mermaid is a legendary creature with a female human head and torso
(if it's male, it's called a merman) and the tail of a fish, which
inhabits the water. Some sailors claim to have seen mermaids; what
they actually saw are probably manatees. A freshwater mermaid-like
creature having two tails is a melusine, or a Nixie."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid
"An imaginary creature described in stories, with the upper body of a
woman and the tail of a fish."
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
"Etymology: Middle English mermayde, from mere sea (from Old English)
+ mayde maid - (the mermaid is) a fabled marine creature with the head
and upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish."
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=mermaid&x=18&y=17
"A fabled marine creature, typically represented as having the upper
part like that of a woman, and the lower like a fish; a sea nymph, sea
woman, or woman fish. Chaucer uses this word as equivalent to the
siren of the ancients. Mermaid fish, a European spatangoid sea urchin
(Echinocardium cordatum) having some resemblance to a skull. <botany>
Mermaid weed, an aquatic herb with dentate or pectinate leaves
(Proserpinaca palustris and P. Pectinacea)."
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=mermaid&action=Search+OMD
"A fabled marine creature with the head and upper body of a human
being and the tail of a fish. Similar divine or semidivine beings
appear in ancient mythologies (e.g., the Chaldean sea god Ea, or
Oannes). In European folklore, mermaids (sometimes called sirens) and
mermen were natural beings who, like fairies, had magical and
prophetic powers."
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=53459&tocid=0&query=mermaid&ct=
"In folklore, sea-dwelling creature commonly represented as having the
head and body of a woman and a fishtail instead of legs. Belief in
mermaids, and in their counterpart, mermen, has existed since earliest
times. They are often described as having great beauty and charm,
which they use to lure sailors to their deaths. In some legends they
assumed human shape and married mortals. The origin of the mermaid is
thought by some to be the dugong."
http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/M/mermaid.html
Therefore for your definition in 60-80 words I would summarise the above as:
"In folklore, the mermaid is a sea-dwelling creature commonly
represented as having the head and body of a woman and the tail of a
fish instead of legs. The masculine of the species is known as a
merman. Mermaids are often described as having great beauty and charm
with magical and prophetic powers, which they use to lure sailors to
their deaths. The origin of their myth is commonly thought to derive
from sightings of a dugong or manatee." [79 words]
If you have any further questions on this subject please ask for
clarification and I will do my best to help. |
Request for Answer Clarification by
creamofcards-ga
on
24 Jul 2004 07:19 PDT
Hi palitoy-ga,
The answer is perfect. Would you like to write summaries for other
fantasy creatures? If you are interested, send me your email address
and I'll contact you when I submit my questions. I want to do: fairy,
dwarf, elf, goblin, dragon
Other future subjects could include: 1920's Gangsters, Wild West
Outlaws, early Jazz musicians etc.
|
