English
nymph
Nymph comes from Latin nympha ‘nymph, bride’, and goes back to Ancient Greek νύμφη.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEνύμφηnúmphē‘bride, young maiden’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEnympha‘nymph, bride’next step skipped: Old English nymphē
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400nimphe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 2019nymph
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEνύμφηnúmphē‘bride, young maiden’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEnympha‘nymph, bride’next step skipped: Old English nymphē
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400nimphe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 2019nymph
Earliest quotation: 2019, James W. White, Fly-fishing the Arctic Circle to Tasmania: “Kuster meanwhile nymphed the middle of the Snag. When…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *snewbʰ- ‘to marry (of a woman)’
Today it means
noun Any female nature spirit associated with water, forests, grottos, wind, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek νύμφη / nymph