Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Medusa |
MedusaNoun1. (Greek mythology) a woman transformed into a Gorgon by Athena; she was slain by Perseus. 2. Any of numerous usually marine and free-swimming coelenterates that constitute the sexually reproductive forms of hydrozoans and scyphozoans. 3. One of two forms that coelenterates take: is the free-swimming sexual stage in the life cycle of a coelenterate and has a gelatinous umbrella-shaped body and tentacles. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
"Medusa" is a name that signifies or is derived from: "plan", "contrive". |
Date "Medusa" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references) |
Etymology: Medusa \Me*du"sa\, noun. [Latin expression, from the Greek]. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Biographical Satire | MEDUSA, a celebrated ancient who had the delirium tremens in an acute stage. Source: Who was Who: 5000BC - 1914. |
Literature | Medusa Chief of the Gorgons. Her head was cut off by Perseus (2 syl.), and Minerva placed it in her aegis. Everyone who looked on this head was instantly changed into stone. The tale is that Medusa, famous for her hair, presumed to set her beauty above that of Minerva; so the jealous goddess converted her rival's hair into snakes, which changed to stone anyone who looked thereon. The most famous painting of Medusa is by Leonardo da Vinci; it is called his chef d'oeuvre. Source: Brewer's Dictionary. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
- Medusa was a gorgon from Greek mythology whose gaze turned people to stone.
- Medusae are a form of coelenterate in which the body is shortened on its principal axis and broadened, sometimes greatly, in contrast with the hydroid or polyp.
- Medusa a fictional superhero in the Marvel Universe
- Medusa is a proposed type of nuclear pulse propulsion using a solar sail as its "pusher plate"
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Medusa."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In biology, a medusa (also known as a hydromedusa) is a form of coelenterate in which the body is shortened on its principal axis and broadened, sometimes greatly, in contrast with the hydroid or polyp. Medusae vary from bell-shaped to the shape of a thin disk, scarcely convex above and only slightly concave below. The upper or aboral surface is called the exumbrella and the lower surface is called the subumbrella; the mouth is located on the lower surface, which may be partially closed by a membrane extending inward from the margin (called the velum). The digestive cavity consists of the stomach and radiating canals which extend toward the margin; these canals may be simple or branching, and vary in number from few to many. The margin of the disk bears sensory organs and tentacles.In the class Hydrozoa medusae are the sexual individuals of many species, alternating in the life cycle with asexual polyps, but in Scyphozoa or (jellyfishes) proper the medusa alone is well developed. Except the freshwater jellyfish, medusa do only appear in the life cycle of marine hydrozoa and scyphozoa.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Medusa (biology)."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Medusa is a fictional superhero, a member of the Inhumans in the Marvel Universe, and sister of Crystal. She at one time was a member of the Fantastic Four and the Frightful Four. Her regent is Black Bolt.Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Medusa (comics)."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In Greek mythology, Medusa ("ruler") also meaning "queen", was the only mortal of the three gorgon sisters (gorgons being vicious female monsters with brass hands, sharp fangs and hair of living, venomous snakes). She was a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto.Medusa was a mortal woman whom Athena changed into a Gorgon as punishment for desecrating her temple by sleeping with Poseidon there. Some say that Poseidon raped her, while others say that she willingly had intercourse with him in Athena's sanctuary. Nonetheless, when Athena became aware of these activities going on in her temple, she became enraged. It may have been jealousy that provoked Athena to turn Medusa from a beautiful woman into the gorgon, for Medusa was reputed to be pulchritudinous, and her hair was particularly splendid. When Athena came upon Medusa and Poseidon (also an arch-rival of Athena's since he vied for dominance over Athens, Athena offering the olive tree, Poseidon, the horse), she turned Medusa's beautiful hair into snakey tendrils and banished her to the far ends of the earth beyond the Hyperborean lands where she remained with her sisters.
Meanwhile, the Argosian king, Acrisius, heard an oracle that told him that if his daughter, Danae, gave birth to a son, this grandson would kill him. In an effort to defy the oracle, he locked Danae up in a brazen tower. There Zeus came to her as a shower of gold, impregnating her. Incarcerated, Danae gave birth to a son, Perseus. When the king Acrius heard the clamor of the child, he realized that his efforts to imprison his daughter were in vain. He locked Danae and her new born son Perseus up in a wooden chest, and cast them into the sea.
Drifting in the sea, the fisherman Dictys scooped them up with his net and took the mother and child to the island of Seriphos, where his brother Polydectes reigned. There Perseus grew. Some say that Polydyctes wanted to marry Danae, and it was to save his mother from the marriage that Perseus offered to go off and slay Medusa, while others say that since all guests brought a horse as a marriage gift, Perseus, having no gift, offered to go off and bring Medusa as a fitting wedding gift for Polydyctes. Whatever the reason, Perseus left the island of Seriphos and set off, intent to return with Medusa.
Medusa was killed by Perseus with aid from Athena and Hermes. After Perseus used Medusa's head to kill Phineas, he gave it to Athena, who placed it on her shield, the aegis.
From Medusa's blood sprang two children by Poseidon: Pegasus and Chrysaor.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Medusa (mythology)."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Medusa is a town located in Albany County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 376.Geography
Medusa is located at 42°26'4" North, 74°7'38" West (42.434449, -74.127248)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.8 km² (6.9 mi²). 17.6 km² (6.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.02% water.Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 376 people, 147 households, and 104 families residing in the town. The population density is 21.4/km² (55.4/mi²). There are 183 housing units at an average density of 10.4/km² (27.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 99.20% White, 0.00% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. 0.27% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 147 households out of which 33.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% are married couples living together, 4.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% are non-families. 21.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.56 and the average family size is 3.04. In the town the population is spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 105.9 males. The median income for a household in the town is $44,688, and the median income for a family is $50,000. Males have a median income of $35,833 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the town is $19,716. 6.7% of the population and 4.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 10.4% are under the age of 18 and 0.0% are 65 or older.Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Medusa, New York."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Perseus
larger mapAbbreviation Per Genitive Persei Meaning in English Perseus Right ascension 3 h Declination +45° Visible to latitude Between +90° and -35° On meridian December Area
- TotalRanked 24th
615 sq. deg.Number of stars with
apparent magnitude < 35 Brightest star
- Apparent magnitudeMirphak (α Persei)
1,79Meteor showers
- Perseids
- September Perseids
Bordering constellations
- Cassiopeia
- Andromeda
- Triangulum
- Aries
- Taurus
- Auriga
- Camelopardalis
Perseus is a northern constellation, representing the Greek hero who slew the monster Medusa. It is one of Ptolemy's 48 constellations and was also adopted by the International Astronomical Union as one of the 88 modern constellations. It contains the famous variable star Algol (β Per), and is also the location of the radiant of the annual Perseids meteor shower.
Notable features
Here are some of its stars:
- Mirphak (α Per): The brightest star of this constellation is also called Algenib (a name which is used for other stars as well, e. g. γ Peg). Mirphak (Arabic for elbow) is a supergiant of spectral type F5 Ib with an apparent brightness of 1.79m lying at a distance of ca. 590 light-years. Its luminosity is 5,000 times and its diameter is 62 times that of our Sun.
- Algol (β per): This may not be the brightest star of this constellation, but it definitely is its most famous star. Algol (from Arabic al-Ghul, which means The Ghoul or The Demon Star) represents the eye of the gorgon Medusa. This star is the prototype of a whole group of eclipsing variable stars. Its apparent brightness ranges between 2.12m and 3.39, and this within a period of merely 2.867 days. It is of spectral type B8 V and lies at a distance of only 93 ly.
Notable deep sky objects
- h+χ Per: These two open clusters (NGC 869 and NGC 884 respectively) belong to the most beautiful objects of the night sky for binoculars and small telescopes. Both lie at distances of more than 7,000 ly and are separated by several hundred light-years.
- M 34: This open cluster with an apparent brightness of 5.5m lies at a distance of approximately 1,400 ly and consists of about 100 stars that are scattered over an area larger than that of the full moon. Its true diameter is about 14 ly. M 34 can be resolved even with good binoculars but is best viewed using a telescope at low magnifications.
- M 76: This planetary nebula is also called Little Dumbbell Nebula. It measures about 65 arc seconds and has an apparent brightness of 10.1m.
- NGC 1499: Also called California Nebula this emission nebula, discovered in 1884-85 by the American astronomer Edward E. Barnard, is a great target for astrophotographers. Due to its low surface brightness it's a very difficult object when observed visually.
Mythology
Perseus is the protagonist of one of the most famous of the ancient Greeks' many interesting myths. This story also concerns several other constellations, namely Cassiopeia, Cepheus and Andromeda.Perseus was the son of mortal Danae and the god Zeus. He went on a quest to obtain the head of the gorgon Medusa as a wedding present for Dictys, the brother of king Polydectes of Seriphos (the quest was actually only a ruse on Dictys' side). With a bit of help of the gods Hermes and Athena he finally managed to kill the gorgon and take her head. On the way back he rescued Andromeda (daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, king and queen of Ethiopia) from a sea-monster. For more details on this myth see Perseus (mythology).
External Links
- SEDS' comprehensive Messier Catalog
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Perseus (constellation)."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
MEDUSA | English | Mechanical Engineering Drafting Utilities System Administrator | Computing, Building & Civil Engineering |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: MedusaSynonyms: jellyfish (n), medusan (n). (additional references) |
Crosswords: Medusa |
| English words defined with "Medusa": Aegina ♦ cnidarian, coelenterate ♦ flying horse ♦ Hydranth, Hydromedusa ♦ Meconidium, Medusa bud, Medusae, Medusian, Medusiform, medusoid ♦ Nectocalyx ♦ Pegasus, Perseus, Planoblast, Polypite ♦ Quarl ♦ Sea jelly, Sea nettle, Semaeostomata. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "Medusa": Trachymedusae. (references) |
| Non-English Usage: "Medusa" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses. Dutch (Medusa), Italian (jellyfish, Medusa), Portuguese (jellyfish, medusa), Spanish (blubber, jellyfish, jelly-fish, Medusa), Swedish (nettle fish), Turkish (Medusa). |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | The head of Medusa. That's what's in the box, and who looks on her will be changed not into stone but into brimstone and ashes (Kiss Me Deadly; writing credit: Mickey Spillane; A.I. Bezzerides) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Medusa (1973) Villa Medusa (1999) Operation Medusa (1995) Kiss of Medusa (1982) The Medusa Touch (1978) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
Books |
| ||
Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
| ||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Medusa HeadBitterbrush seedlingsRange Restoration ProjectLower Snake River District. Credit: Mike Pellant. |  | In Balboa Harbor, Panama Canal Zone, 24 April 1934. Several U.S. Navy ships are also present, among them (from the front) USS Melville (AD-2) with USS Zane and another destroyer alongside; USS Medusa (AR-1); USS Litchfield (DD-336) and another destroyer; and USS Truxtun (DD-229) and another destroyer. Credit: NAVY. |
 | New York city views. "Medusa" tree, and 5th Ave. buildings. Credit: Library of Congress. | ||
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |
| "Medusa" by Joanka Betlej Commentary: "We have a great exhibiton of mitoraj's sculptures - and they are great!." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. |
| "Medusa" is generally used as a noun (proper) -- approximately 93.10% of the time. "Medusa" is used about 58 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (proper) | 93.1% | 54 | 46,184 |
| Noun (singular) | 6.9% | 4 | 175,879 |
| Total | 100.00% | 58 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
1. Medusa, NY |
Expression using "Medusa": Medusa bud. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "Medusa": medusa-like, medusa-threads. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
medusa | 729 | image medusa | 10 |
medusa picture | 73 | medusa head | 9 |
raft of the medusa | 46 | medusa myth | 9 |
greek mythology medusa | 36 | medusa costume | 9 |
medusa lamp | 36 | medusa art | 7 |
medusa realm | 26 | greek medusa | 7 |
medusa mythology | 24 | clash medusa titans | 6 |
medusa mystic | 24 | the medusa file | 6 |
perseus and medusa | 19 | la medusa | 6 |
medusa floor lamp | 19 | coaster medusa roller | 6 |
eddie medusa | 19 | medusa shield | 6 |
club medusa | 19 | afro medusa | 6 |
medusa pic | 16 | medusa film | 6 |
gericault raft of the medusa | 16 | medusa piercing | 6 |
versace medusa | 14 | medusa pepper | 6 |
club medusa seattle | 13 | medusa photo | 5 |
medusa ny | 12 | fish jelly medusa | 5 |
gorgon medusa | 11 | medusa sex | 5 |
annie lennox medusa | 11 | medusa seattle | 5 |
medusa tattoo | 11 | medusa salon | 5 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "Medusa"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | Kandil Deti (jellyfish). (various references) | |
Arabic | قنديل البحر. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | Медуза. (various references) | |
Chinese | 水母. (various references) | |
Czech | Medúza (jelly fish, jellyfish). (various references) | |
Dutch | Medusa. (various references) | |
Esperanto | Meduzo. (various references) | |
French | Méduse. (various references) | |
German | Meduse (jellyfish). (various references) | |
Greek | όέδουσα, ίοιλέντερο. (various references) | |
Hungarian | medúza (gorgon, jelly fish, jellyfish, sea-jelly, slobber). (various references) | |
Italian | Medusa (jellyfish). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | edusamay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | medusa (jellyfish), urtiga-do-mar, alforreca, água-viva (jellyfish, running water). (various references) | |
Romanian | Meduzã (jellyfish, nettle fish, sea nettle). (various references) | |
Russian | Медуза, медуза (jellyfish, nettle fish, nettle-fish, sea-jelly). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | meduza (jelly fish, jellyfish, nettle fish). (various references) | |
Spanish | Medusa (blubber, jellyfish, jelly-fish). (various references) | |
Swedish | manet (jellyfish, jelly-fish). (various references) | |
Turkish | Medusa, Yılansaçlı Tanrıça, Denizanası (jellyfish). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | Медуза. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "Medusa": medusae, medusal, medusan, medusans, medusas. (additional references) | |
Words ending with "Medusa": hydromedusa. (additional references) | |
Words containing "Medusa": hydromedusae. (additional references) | |
| |
"Medusa" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: empusae, Mabuza, madurai, madus, madusa, madussa, Manduca, Mapusa, Masdus, Mcdata, Mebumal, m'ecuse, Medata, Medaus, Medesano, mediscan, medised, medism, medsi, medu, medua, medula, medussa, medusz, Meluha, metaxa, metus, midrush, mucusal, Mudassar, Muddus, mudusa, Negusa. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| Words rhyming with "Medusa" (pronounced 'Me*du"sa'): Abscissa, Amorosa, Annulosa, Ansa, Aporosa, Balsa, Bolsa, Bursa, Casa, fossa, Foussa, Ganesa, Gloriosa, Glossa, Lobosa, lyssa, margosa, Melissa, mesa, mimosa, Missa, Musa, Nassa, Oquassa, Paraglossa, Physa, Potassa, Ptenoglossa, Raghuvansa, Reticulosa, Rhachiglossa, Rhipidoglossa, Rugosa, Saccoglossa, Sarsa, Sessa, Siliquosa, Ursa, Vanessa, Vibrissa. (additional references) |
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
Direct Anagrams: amused. | |
| Words within the letters "a-d-e-m-s-u" | |
-1 letter: amuse, dames, dumas, mauds, meads, mused, sedum. | |
-2 letters: amus, dame, dams, dues, duma, emus, made, mads, maes, maud, mead, mesa, muds, muse, sade, same, seam, sued, used. | |
-3 letters: ads, amu, dam, due, eau, eds, ems, emu, mad, mae, mas, med, mud, mus, sad, sae, sau, sea, sue, sum, use. | |
-4 letters: ad, ae, am, as. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-d-e-m-s-u" | |
+1 letter: almudes, assumed, medusae, medusal, medusan, medusas, remudas. | |
+2 letters: agendums, ambushed, amusedly, bermudas, campused, duramens, eardrums, madhouse, maunders, maundies, measured, medullas, medusans, mundanes, muscadel, muscadet, summated, surnamed, unamused, unmasked, unseamed, unshamed. | |
+3 letters: admeasure, ambuscade, amygdules, ausformed, coassumed, demurrals, drumbeats, drumheads, dumbcanes, dumbheads, edematous, eudaemons, feudalism, guardsmen, housemaid, humanised, madhouses, marauders, meandrous, misgauged, misvalued, modulates, muraenids, muscadels, muscadets, muscadine, mustached, nursemaid, outdreams, outshamed, reassumed, simulated, subdermal, unashamed, underarms. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Slideshow 7. Images: Photo Album 8. Images: Digital Art | 9. Usage Frequency 10. Cities 11. Expressions 12. Expressions: Internet | 13. Translations: Modern 14. Abbreviations 15. Acronyms 16. Derivations | 17. Rhymes 18. Anagrams 19. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
