— conferval, confervous /keuhn ferr"veuhs/ , adj. — confervoid /kon ferr"voyd/ , adj. , n.
/kon ferr"veuh/ , n. , pl. confervae /-vee/ , confervas .
any simple filamentous green algae, many of which were formerly classified in the genus Conferva.
[ 1630-40; confervere to grow together, heal (see CON-, FERVENT) ]