nymph

nymph
nymph (n.) late 14c., "class of semi-divine female beings," from O.Fr. nimphe (13c.), from L. nympha "nymph, demi-goddess; bride, mistress, young woman," from Gk. nymphe "bride, young wife," later "beautiful young woman," then "semi-divine being in the form of a beautiful maiden;" related to L. nubere "to marry, wed" (see NUPTIAL (Cf. nuptial)). Sub-groups include dryads, hamadryads, naiads, nereids, and oreads. Sense in English of "young woman, girl" is attested from 1580s. Meaning "insect stage between larva and adult" is recorded from 1570s. Related: Nymphal; nymphean.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • nymph — nymph·al; nymph·et; nymph·id; nymph·ish; para·nymph; pro·nymph; pro·to·nymph; tri·to·nymph; …   English syllables

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  • nymph — ymph (n[i^]mf), n. [L. nympha nymph, bride, young woman, Gr. ny mfh: cf. F. nymphe. Cf. {Nuptial}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Class. Myth.) A goddess of the mountains, forests, meadows, or waters. [1913 Webster] Where were ye, nymphs, when the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nymph — [nımf] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: nimphe, from Latin, from Greek nymphe bride, nymph ] 1.) one of the ↑spirits of nature who, according to ancient Greek and Roman stories, appeared as young girls living in trees, mountains, streams …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • nymph — ► NOUN 1) a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden. 2) literary a beautiful young woman. 3) an immature form of an insect such as a dragonfly. DERIVATIVES nymphal adjective. ORIGIN Greek numph nymph, bride …   English terms dictionary

  • nymph — nymph. См. нимфа. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • nymph — [ nımf ] noun count 1. ) in ancient Greek and Roman stories, one of the female spirits who live in rivers, mountains, or forests a ) LITERARY a young woman 2. ) a young insect that becomes an adult without going through a PUPA stage …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • nymph — [n] female nature spirit dryad, fairy, goddess, mermaid, naiad, nymphet, spirit, sprite, sylph; concepts 415,424 …   New thesaurus

  • nymph — [nimf] n. [ME nimphe < OFr < L nympha < Gr nymphē, young wife, spring goddess, hence (poetically) water: see NUBILE] 1. Gr. & Rom. Myth. any of a group of minor nature goddesses, represented as young and beautiful and living in rivers,… …   English World dictionary

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