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nymph

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Hylas and the Nymphs by John William Waterhouse, 1896
Nymph of a mantis.

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *snewbʰ-
Ancient Greek νύμφη (númphē)der.
Latin nymphader.
Old French nimphebor.
Middle English nimphe
English nymph

    From Middle English nimphe, from Old English nymphē and Old French nimphe, both from Latin nympha (“nymph, bride”), from Ancient Greek νύμφη (númphē, “bride, young maiden”). Doublet of nympha.

    Pronunciation

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    • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈnɪmf/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Rhymes: -ɪmf

    Noun

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    nymph (plural nymphs or nymphae)

    1. (Greek mythology, Roman mythology) Any female nature spirit associated with water, forests, grottos, wind, etc.
      Hyponyms: dryad, hamadryad, limoniad, naiad, Nereid, Oceanid, oread
    2. A young girl, especially one who is attractive, beautiful or graceful.
      Synonyms: lolita, nymphet, nymphette
    3. (entomology) The larva of certain insects.
      Synonyms: instar, naiad
    4. (entomology) Any of various butterflies of the family Nymphalidae.

    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    Verb

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    nymph (third-person singular simple present nymphs, present participle nymphing, simple past and past participle nymphed)

    1. (fishing) To fish using a nymph larva as bait.
      • 2019, James W. White, Fly-fishing the Arctic Circle to Tasmania, page 253:
        Kuster meanwhile nymphed the middle of the Snag. When I joined him, I threw my streamer between the main channel's flow and the skinnier side-channel flow, […]

    See also

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