conferva

[ kon-fur-vuh ]
/ kɒnˈfɜr və /

noun, plural con·fer·vae [kon-fur-vee] /kɒnˈfɜr vi/, con·fer·vas.

any simple filamentous green algae, many of which were formerly classified in the genus Conferva.

Origin of conferva

1630–40; < Latin: a certain water plant supposed to heal wounds, akin to confervēre to grow together, heal (see con-, fervent)

OTHER WORDS FROM conferva

con·fer·val, con·fer·vous [kuh n-fur-vuh s] /kənˈfɜr vəs/, adjective con·fer·void [kon-fur-void] /kɒnˈfɜr vɔɪd/, adjective, noun

Words nearby conferva

conference on security and cooperation in europe, conference pear, conferencing, conferral, conferree, conferva, confess, confessant, confessedly, confession, confession of faith

Example sentences from the Web for conferva

British Dictionary definitions for conferva

conferva
/ (kɒnˈfɜːvə) /

noun plural -vae (-viː) or -vas

any of various threadlike green algae, esp any of the genus Tribonema, typically occurring in fresh water

Derived forms of conferva

conferval, adjective confervoid, noun, adjective

Word Origin for conferva

C18: from Latin: a water plant, from confervēre to grow together, heal, literally: to seethe, from fervēre to boil; named with reference to its reputed healing properties