water nymph

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.

water nymph

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of water nymph¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

First, a naiad is a water nymph in Greek myth—a woman who looked over the waterways.

From The Daily Beast

At the wedding of Thetis, a water nymph, all the gods and goddesses except Eris were seated at the banquet.

From Project Gutenberg

But Miss Patience, shut up in the back part of the carriage like a water nymph in her cave, still wept hysterically.

From Project Gutenberg

The odalisk appears like a rosy water-nymph swinging on a bright lotus-leaf over a fountain of liquid rubies.

From Project Gutenberg

She twisted and turned like a white water-nymph that had risen from the stream.

From Project Gutenberg

She looked like a water nymph herself, so much of her time had been spent in her beloved water.

From Project Gutenberg