Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
An invisible being of the air.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: sylphid
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The elemental being of air, usually female.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A slender woman or girl, usually graceful and sometimes with the implication of sublime station over everyday people.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any of the mainly dark green and blue hummingbirds (genus Aglaiocercus), the male of which has a long forked tail.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences, ornithology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
an elemental being believed to inhabit the air
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: imaginary being, imaginary creature
noun
a slender graceful young woman
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: woman, adult female
History
First attested in 1657. From New Latin sylphes, coined by Paracelsus in the 16th century. The coinage may derive from Latin sylvestris (“of the woods”) and nympha (“nymph”). Ultimately from the root silva (“woods, forest”). Related to sylvan. More at Wikipedia.
Across languages
20 source translations are retained for this English entry.
