water nymph

American  

noun

1. a nymph of the water, as a naiad, a Nereid, or an Oceanid.

2. water lily.

3. any aquatic plant of the genus Najas, having narrow, opposite leaves.

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water nymph British  

noun

1. any fabled nymph of the water, such as the Naiad, Nereid, or Oceanid of Greek mythology

2. any of various aquatic plants, esp a water lily or a naiad

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Etymology

Origin of water nymph

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

The word “Nyad” is a derivation of “naiad,” the water nymph from Greek mythology.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2023

The water nymph heroine of Antonin Dvorak’s best-known opera never stands a chance against the witch Jezibaba - especially as played to the hilt by the powerhouse mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton.

From Washington Times • Feb. 22, 2017

“I’m a huge Stones fan,” admitted Ellen Miller, who co-authored the water nymph paper in September’s Journal of Paleontology.

From The Guardian • Sep. 11, 2014

Dvorak’s “Rusalka,” about a water nymph doomed by her love for a human prince, is a fairy tale.

From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2014

Once, however, Arethusa was not water or even a water nymph, but a fair young huntress and a follower of Artemis.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton