— Hesperidian /hes'peuh rid"ee euhn/ , adj.
/he sper"i deez'/ , n.
1. Class. Myth.
a. ( used with a pl. v. ) 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.
b. ( used with a sing. v. ) the garden where the golden apples were grown.
c. ( used with a pl. v. ) See Islands of the Blessed .
2. ( italics ) ( used with a pl. v. ) a collection of poems (1648) by Robert Herrick.
[ see HESPERUS, -IDES ]