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 remorseless deep
Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: A lovely young girl; a maiden; a damsel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remembered. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) The pupa of an insect; a chrysalis. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) Any one of a subfamily (Najades) of butterflies including the purples, the fritillaries, the peacock butterfly, etc.; -- called also naiad. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Nymphae [ L. See Nymph a goddess. ] 1. (Zool.) Same as Nymph, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. (Anat.) Two folds of mucous membrane, within the labia, at the opening of the vulva. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. [ L., the water lily, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Bot.) A genus of aquatic plants having showy flowers (white, blue, pink, or yellow, often fragrant), including the white water lily and the Egyptia lotus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Recent critics have endeavored to show that this genus should be called Castalia, and the name Nymphaea transferred to what is now known as Nuphar. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A natural family of dicot aquatic plants.
Syn. -- family Nymphaeaceae, water-lily family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to a nymph or nymphs; nymphean. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) Same as Nymphalidae, an extensive family of butterflies including the nymphs, the satyrs, the monarchs, the heliconias, and others; -- called also brush-footed butterflies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, consisting of medium to large butterflies found worldwide, typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast.
Syn. -- nymphalid butterfly, brush-footed butterfly, four-footed butterfly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A natural family of large beautifully colored butterflies, called also the brush-footed butterflies; formerly called Nymphales.
Syn. -- family Nymphalidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. The type genus of the Nymphalidae, including the mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa).
Syn. -- genus Nymphalis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;. See Nymph. ] Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, nymphs; inhabited by nymphs; as, a nymphean cave. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A little or young nymph. [ Poetic ] “The nymphets sporting there.” Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_; bridal. ] Of or pertaining to nymphs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Nymph + L. parere to produce. ] (Zool.) Producing pupas or nymphs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to nymphs; ladylike. “Nymphish war.” Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Resembling, or characteristic of, a nymph. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A nymphomaniac. [ slang ] [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. ny`mfh a nymph + lamba`nein to seize. ] A species of demoniac enthusiasm or possession coming upon one who had accidentally looked upon a nymph; ecstasy. [ R. ] De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

The nympholepsy of some fond despair. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Under the influence of nympholepsy; ecstatic; frenzied. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. ny`mfh a bride + mani`a madness. ] (Med.) An uncontrollable excessive sexual desire in women, constituting a true disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman afflicted with nymphomania. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. nymphomanie. ] (Med.) Same as Nymphomania. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Nympha + Gr. te`mnein to cut. ] (Med.) Excision of the nymphae. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. paranymphus, Gr. &unr_;; para` beside, near + &unr_; a bride: cf. F. paranymphe. ] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) (a) A friend of the bridegroom who went with him in his chariot to fetch home the bride. Milton. (b) The bridesmaid who conducted the bride to the bridegroom. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: An ally; a supporter or abettor. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bridal; nuptial. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

At some paranymphal feast. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The pupa of insects which undergo only a slight change in passing to the imago state. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Myth.) A goddess of any stream or other body of water, whether one of the Naiads, Nereids, or Oceanides. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A water lily (Nymphaea). [ 1913 Webster ]