water sprite

noun

1. a sprite or spirit inhabiting the water, as an undine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of water sprite¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Joining water sprites like Huske on the women’s team are a handful of veterans who thought they were done swimming five years ago.

From New York Times

Deakin’s book begins with an ecstatic moat swim in summer rain, amid “water sprites springing up on tiptoe like bright pins over the surface.”

From The New Yorker

On their backs are figures representing the arts, figures that look like water sprites.

From Literature

The Rheinmaidens: Three water sprites, variously depicted as mermaids or Esther Williams clones, who guard the magical gold of the river Rhine, which confers power on anyone willing to renounce love for it.

From Washington Post

In it, a water sprite offers a poor miller fantastic wealth, but tricks him into promising her his newborn son.

From New York Times