sylph

[ silf ]

noun

1. a slender, graceful woman or girl.
2. (in folklore) one of a race of supernatural beings supposed to inhabit the air.

sylph

/ sɪlf /

noun

1. a slender graceful girl or young woman
2. any of a class of imaginary beings assumed to inhabit the air

Derived Forms

• ˈsylphˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• sylphic adjective
• sylphlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sylph¹

1650–60; from New Latin sylphēs (plural), coined by Paracelsus; apparently blend of sylva (variant spelling of Latin silva “forest”) and Greek nýmphē nymph

Word History and Origins

Origin of sylph¹

C17: from New Latin sylphus, probably coined from Latin silva wood + Greek numphē nymph

Synonym Study

Sylph, salamander, undine ( nymph ), gnome were imaginary beings inhabiting the four elements once believed to make up the physical world. All except the gnomes were female. Sylphs dwelt in the air and were light, dainty, and airy beings. Salamanders dwelt in fire: “a salamander that … lives in the midst of flames” (Addison). Undines were water spirits: By marrying a man, an undine could acquire a mortal soul. (They were also called nymphs, though nymphs were ordinarily minor divinities of nature who dwelt in woods, hills, and meadows as well as in waters.) Gnomes were little old men or dwarfs, dwelling in the earth: ugly enough to be king of the gnomes.

Example Sentences

On finding himself the object of our attention, the man vanished with the swiftness of a sylph.

From Project Gutenberg

But no sylph came again; no form rivaled the zephyr before me.

From Project Gutenberg

One word again made me a captive: that word was now "Lafontaine;" and at the same moment I saw the sylph bounding to my side.

From Project Gutenberg

"Wait in this spot until I return," was all that I heard, before he and the sylph had waltzed away far down the hall.

From Project Gutenberg

Fanciful as it may seem, the little sylph bore a striking resemblance to the flower from which she sprung.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gnome
• goblin
• imp
• leprechaun