water nymph
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈwɔːtər nɪmf/
- Literature
:
ninfa de agua
- The water nymph danced gracefully by the river.
Examples
-
The artist painted a water nymph emerging gracefully from the lake at dawn.
-
Stories of water nymphs have inspired poets and writers for centuries.
-
In the myth, a water nymph lived in the sparkling stream, enchanting travelers who passed by.
-
In the story, the water nymphs protect the lake.
-
In ancient stories, a water nymph was said to dance near the river, enchanting anyone who passed by.
-
The water nymph watched over the lake, ensuring that the waters remained clear and full of life.
-
Legends tell of a water nymph who could heal the sick by leading them to her spring.
Synonyms
19
8.2
A female spirit of nature often shown as a young beautiful woman
1
9.9
A female spirit who lives in water places like lakes or springs
1
9.8
A magical being in stories that lives in rivers, lakes, or the sea
A water spirit in German and Scandinavian stories that lives in rivers or lakes
A small spirit from stories that lives in lakes or ponds
How Powerful
- Literature
1
8.1
- Literature
1
9.9
- Literature
- Literature
1
9.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
A B1 learner who knows 'water' and 'nymph' would most likely infer a mythological water spirit or the immature insect sense rather than an aquatic plant; the botanical sense (a Najas species) is specialized and not derivable from the literal constituents. Because the plant meaning reflects a conventionalized, domain-specific naming rather than compositional semantics, it is unpredictable for learners and thus opaque.
Etymology
Water nymph may come from old Greek stories about young nature spirits who lived in rivers, lakes, or springs. People pictured a graceful young woman at the water's edge, so the name now means 'a female spirit or minor deity connected with water'.