NYMPH

nymph. Nymph, n. a goddess of the woods, lady, virgin

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Nymph (nĭmf), n. [[L. nympha nymph, bride, young woman, Gr. νύμφη: cf. F. nymphe. Cf. Nuptial.]] 1. 1. (Class. Myth.) A goddess of the mountains, forests, meadows, or waters.
Where were ye, nymphs, when the remorseless deep Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas ? Milton. 2. 2. Hence: A lovely young girl; a maiden; a damsel.
Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered. Shak. 3. 3. (Zoöl.) The pupa of an insect; a chrysalis.
4. 4. (Zoöl.) Any one of a subfamily (Najades) of butterflies including the purples, the fritillaries, the peacock butterfly, etc.; — called also naiad.