Difference between revisions of "Nymph"
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| − | + | ==Origin== | |
| + | Late [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English]: from Old French ''nimphe'', from [[Latin]] ''nympha'', from [[Greek]] ''numphē'' ‘nymph, bride’; related to Latin ''nubere'' ‘be the [[wife]] of.’ | ||
| + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century] | ||
| + | The Greek word νύμφη has "bride" and "veiled" among its [[meanings]]: hence a marriageable young woman. Other [[readers]] refer the word (and also Latin ''nubere'' and German ''Knospe'') to a root expressing the idea of "swelling" (according to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesychius_of_Alexandria Hesychius], one of the meanings of νύμφη is "rose-bud"). | ||
| + | ==Definitions== | ||
| + | *1: a [[mythological]] spirit of [[nature]] imagined as a [[beautiful]] maiden inhabiting [[rivers]], woods, or other locations. | ||
| + | :b. chiefly [[literary]] a beautiful young [[woman]]. | ||
| + | *2:a. an immature form of an [[insect]] that does not change greatly as it [[grows]], e.g., a dragonfly, mayfly, or locust. [[Compare]] with [[larva]]. | ||
| + | :b. an artificial fly made to resemble the aquatic nymph of an insect, used in fishing. | ||
| + | *3 a mainly brown butterfly that frequents woods and [[forest]] glades. | ||
| + | ==Description== | ||
| + | A '''nymph''' (Greek: νύμφη, nymphē) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology Greek mythology] and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_mythology Latin mythology] is a minor [[female]] nature [[deity]] typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from goddesses, ''nymphs'' are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as [[beautiful]], young [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nubile nubile] maidens who love to [[dance]] and [[sing]]; their amorous [[freedom]] sets them apart from the restricted and chaste wives and daughters of the Greek [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polis polis]. They are believed to dwell in [[mountains]] and groves, by springs and [[rivers]], and also in trees and in valleys and cool [[grottoes]]. Although they would never die of old age nor illness, and could give [[birth]] to fully [[immortal]] children if mated to a god, they themselves were not necessarily immortal, and could be beholden to [[death]] in various forms. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charybdis Charybdis] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scylla Scylla] were once ''nymphs''. | ||
| − | + | Other ''nymphs'', always in the shape of young maidens, were part of the retinue of a god, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus Dionysus], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes Hermes], or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan Pan], or a goddess, generally the huntress [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis Artemis]. Nymphs were the frequent target of [[satyrs]]. | |
| − | + | Due to the depiction of the [[mythological]] ''nymphs'' as [[females]] who [[mate]] with men or women at their own [[volition]], and are completely outside of [[male]] [[control]], the term is often used for women who are perceived as behaving similarly. (For example, the title of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Mason Perry Mason] detective novel ''The Case of the Negligent Nymph'' (1956) by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Stanley_Gardner Erle Stanley Gardner] is derived from this [[meaning]] of the word.) | |
| − | + | The term ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphomania nymphomania]'' was created by modern [[psychology]] as referring to a "desire to engage in human sexual [[behavior]] at a level high enough to be considered clinically significant", ''nymphomaniac'' being the person suffering from such a disorder. Due to widespread use of the term among lay persons (often shortened to nympho) and stereotypes attached, professionals nowadays prefer the term ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypersexuality hypersexuality]'', which can refer to males and females alike. | |
| − | |||
| − | + | The word ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphet nymphet]'' is used to identify a sexually precocious girl. The term was made famous in the novel ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita Lolita]'' by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Nabokov Vladimir Nabokov]. The main character, Humbert Humbert, uses the term many times, usually in reference to the title character. | |
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[[Category: The Classics]] | [[Category: The Classics]] | ||
[[Category: Languages and Literature]] | [[Category: Languages and Literature]] | ||
Latest revision as of 01:23, 13 December 2020
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French nimphe, from Latin nympha, from Greek numphē ‘nymph, bride’; related to Latin nubere ‘be the wife of.’
The Greek word νύμφη has "bride" and "veiled" among its meanings: hence a marriageable young woman. Other readers refer the word (and also Latin nubere and German Knospe) to a root expressing the idea of "swelling" (according to Hesychius, one of the meanings of νύμφη is "rose-bud").
Definitions
- 1: a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations.
- 2:a. an immature form of an insect that does not change greatly as it grows, e.g., a dragonfly, mayfly, or locust. Compare with larva.
- b. an artificial fly made to resemble the aquatic nymph of an insect, used in fishing.
- 3 a mainly brown butterfly that frequents woods and forest glades.
Description
A nymph (Greek: νύμφη, nymphē) in Greek mythology and in Latin mythology is a minor female nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing; their amorous freedom sets them apart from the restricted and chaste wives and daughters of the Greek polis. They are believed to dwell in mountains and groves, by springs and rivers, and also in trees and in valleys and cool grottoes. Although they would never die of old age nor illness, and could give birth to fully immortal children if mated to a god, they themselves were not necessarily immortal, and could be beholden to death in various forms. Charybdis and Scylla were once nymphs.
Other nymphs, always in the shape of young maidens, were part of the retinue of a god, such as Dionysus, Hermes, or Pan, or a goddess, generally the huntress Artemis. Nymphs were the frequent target of satyrs.
Due to the depiction of the mythological nymphs as females who mate with men or women at their own volition, and are completely outside of male control, the term is often used for women who are perceived as behaving similarly. (For example, the title of the Perry Mason detective novel The Case of the Negligent Nymph (1956) by Erle Stanley Gardner is derived from this meaning of the word.)
The term nymphomania was created by modern psychology as referring to a "desire to engage in human sexual behavior at a level high enough to be considered clinically significant", nymphomaniac being the person suffering from such a disorder. Due to widespread use of the term among lay persons (often shortened to nympho) and stereotypes attached, professionals nowadays prefer the term hypersexuality, which can refer to males and females alike.
The word nymphet is used to identify a sexually precocious girl. The term was made famous in the novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. The main character, Humbert Humbert, uses the term many times, usually in reference to the title character.
