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nymph

noun

  1. minor female nature deity in Greek and Roman mythology
  2. immature form of insects and some other invertebrates
L24737 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈnɪmf/

noun

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

  1. Any female nature spirit associated with water, forests, grotto, wind, etc.
  2. A young girl, especially one who is attractive, beautiful or graceful.
  3. The larva of certain insects.
  4. Any of various butterflies of the family Nymphalidae.

verb

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

  1. To fish using a nymph larva as bait.

    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, […]