nympha Latin · revision 3972

15 Oct 2026, 20:39 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Livius Andronicus|origins=grc νύμφη}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnym.pʰa]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnim.fa]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''nympha''' ''f'' (genitive nymphae); first declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|grc|νύμφη|tr=númphē|t=bride, nymph]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) A Greek form [[m|la|nymphē]] is also used.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Georges explains the Greek as “the veiled one”, comparing [[nubo|alt=nūbō]] “to marry”.^(Georges 1913)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Livius Andronicus has “the nymph Calypso”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates him 280/260–before 200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a nymph, a semi-divine spirit of woods and waters, as Cicero's temple of the Nymphs.^(OLD 2012) In poetry, following the Greek, it meant a bride or a young woman, as Ovid's wives bringing gifts for their husbands' safe return.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) By metonymy it meant water or a spring, in Propertius and Martial.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ 
+ Pliny uses it of the pupa of bees and wasps.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) English ''nymph'' was borrowed through Old French in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it of Calypso.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero mentions the temple of the Nymphs.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of brides.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of the pupa of bees.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''nymph'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[m|en|nymph]], a spirit of nature.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(poetic)'' A [[m|en|bride]]; a young woman.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(poetic)'' Water; a spring.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ # The [[m|en|pupa]] of an insect.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[nymphālis]]
+ * [[nymphigena]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[nymphaea]]
+ * [[nymphēum]]
+ * [[lympha]]
+ * [[en|nymph]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}