n. [ F. sylphe, m., fr. Gr. &unr_; a kind of grub, beetle, or moth; -- so called by Paracelsus. ] 1. An imaginary being inhabiting the air; a fairy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: A slender, graceful woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of very brilliant South American humming birds, having a very long and deeply-forked tail; as, the blue-tailed sylph (Cynanthus cyanurus). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. sylphide, fem. See Sylph. ] A little sylph; a young or diminutive sylph. “The place of the sylphid queen.” J. R. Drake. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye sylphs and sylphids, to your chief give ear,
Fays, fairies, genii, elves, and demons, hear. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a sylph. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Sylphlike. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a sylph; airy; graceful. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sometimes a dance . . .
Displayed some sylphlike figures in its maze. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]