νύμφη

νύμφη, ἡ (Ep. voc. νύμφᾰ Il. 3.130, Od. 4.743 (Aeol. acc. to Choerob. in Theod. 1.304) ; later also as nom., AP 14.43 ; but Dor. νύμφᾱ), A. young wife, bride, Il. 18.492, Hdt. 4.172 ; ν. ἄγεσθαι Ar. Pl. 529 ; Ἀελίοιο Pi. O. 7.14 ; opp. νυμφίος, Pl. Lg. 783e ; opp. παρθένος, Praxill. 5, Com.Adesp. 1215 ; always relatively young, as Iris calls Helen, or as Eurycleia calls Penelope, νύμφα φίλη Il. 3.130, Od. 4.743, cf. E. Med. 150, Andr. 140 (both lyr.). 2. marriageable maiden, Il. 9.560, Hes. Th. 298. 3. daughter-in-law, LXX1 Ki. 4.19, Ev.Matt. 10.35. 4. young girl, πενταέτης ν. IG 14.2040.2. II. Nymph or goddess of lower rank, θεαὶ Νύμφαι Il. 24.616, cf. Hes. Th. 130, Fr. 171.5, al., IG 12(8).358 (Thasos, V B.C.) ; N. κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο Od. 6.105 ; N. ἅλιαι S. Ph. 1470 (anap. ; cf. Ναϊάς, Νηρηΐς) ; N. Ὀρεστιάδες, Ὀρειάδες, Il. 6.420, Bion 1.19, cf. Ar. Av. 1098 (lyr.) ; N. Μελίαι Hes. Th. 187, cf. Ἀδρυάδες, Ἁμαδρυάδες, Δρυάδες ; N. ὑάδες, ὑδριάδες, Id. Fr. 180, Porph. Antr. 18 ; N. λειμωνιάδες, πετραῖαι, S. Ph. 1454 (anap.), E. El. 805. 2. esp. of springs, ὀνομάζεσθαι τὰς πηγὰς N. Ath. 11.465a, cf. Lib. Or. 11.28 : hence, poetically, water, AP 9.258 (Antiphan.), 331 (Mel.), cf. Plu. 2.147f. 3. in mystical theology, Ζεὺς ἄμβροτος ἔπλετο ν. Orph. Fr. 21a4. b. applied to souls seeking birth, Porph. Antr. 18 ; cf. νυμφεύω. III. doll, puppet, AP 6.274 (Pers.), Jul. Caes. 332d. IV. young bee or wasp, in the pupa stage, Arist. HA 551b2, 555a3. b. winged male of the ant, Hsch. V. kind of mollusc, Speusipp. ap. Ath. 3.105b. VI. point of the ploughshare, Poll. 1.252, Procl.ad Hes. Op. 425. VII. hollow between the under-lip and chin, Ruf. Onom. 42, Poll. 2.90, Hsch. b. depression on the shoulder of horses, Hippiatr. 26. VIII. opening rosebud, Phot. IX. clitoris, Ruf. Onom. 112, Gal. UP 15.3. X. niche, Callix. 2.