nympholepsy

[nim-fuh-lep-see]

noun

plural

nympholepsies 

1. an ecstasy supposed by the ancients to be inspired by nymphs.

2. a frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable.

nympholepsy

/ ˈnɪmfəˌlɛpsɪ /

noun

1. a state of violent emotion, esp when associated with a desire for something one cannot have

Other Word Forms

• nympholeptic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nympholepsy¹

1765–75; formed on nympholept, on the model of epilepsy

Word History and Origins

Origin of nympholepsy¹

C18: from _nympholept , on the model of epilepsy

Example Sentences

Witchcraft has seized upon you, nympholepsy has struck you.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Through solitude this passion may be exalted into a frenzy like a nympholepsy.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

De Quincey has done so in prose, for instance, and Lord Byron talks of 'The nympholepsy of a fond despair,' though he never was accused of being overridden by his Greek.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

A terrible malady is she, a malady the ancients knew of and called nympholepsy—a beautiful name evocative and symbolic of its ideal aspect, "the breasts of the nymphs in the brake."

Read more on Project Gutenberg

A terrible malady is she, a malady the ancients knew of and called nympholepsy—a beautiful name evocative and symbolic of its ideal aspect, "the breast of the nymph in the brake."

Read more on Project Gutenberg