See Also: Nymph(medicine)
Nymph(health)
nymph(1)(dictionary)
nymph(2)(dictionary)
nymph(encyclopedia)
nymph(dictionary)
water nymph(medicine)

nymph(1) (iou)



nymph noun. LME.
[Old French nimphe (mod. nymphe) from Latin nympha from Greek numphe bride, nymph, rel. to Latin nubere be married to (a man). Cf. earlier NYMPHET.]
a. Classical Mythology. Any of a class of semi-divine spirits regarded as maidens inhabiting the sea, rivers, hills, woods, and trees. LME.
W. S. Maugham The nymph flying through the woods of Greece with the satyr in hot pursuit.sea-nymph, wood nymph, etc.
b. A stream, a river. literary. L16.
W. Drummond Having to these Seas of Joy..added this small Brook or Nymph of mine.
A beautiful young woman. Chiefly poet. & joc. L16.
W. Haggard Counsellor of Embassy living with fellow-travelling nymph.
a. A larva of a hemimetabolous insect, resembling the adult but immature. Also occas., a pupa. L16.
b. A fishing-fly made to resemble the aquatic larva of a mayfly. E20.
nymphean adjective of or pertaining to a nymph or nymphs; nymphlike: M18.
nymphic adjective (rare) of or pertaining to a nymph or nymphs L19.
nymphical adjective (arch. rare) pertaining to or characteristic of a nymph or nymphs L18.
nymphish adjective (arch.) (a) of, pertaining to, or consisting of nymphs; (b) rare nymphlike, bewitching: L16.
nymphlike adjective & adverb (a) adjective resembling (that of) a nymph; graceful, beautiful; (b) adverb (long rare or obsolete) in the manner of a nymph: E17.