Definition of Silph
Sylph (?), n. [F. sylphe, m., fr.
Gr. &?; a kind of grub, beetle, or moth; -- so called by Paracelsus.]
1. An imaginary being inhabiting the air; a
fairy.
2. Fig.: A slender, graceful woman.
3. (Zoöl.) Any one of several
species of very brilliant South American humming birds, having a very
long and deeply-forked tail; as, the blue-tailed sylph
(Cynanthus cyanurus).
Sylph (?), n. [F. sylphe, m., fr.
Gr. &?; a kind of grub, beetle, or moth; -- so called by Paracelsus.]
1. An imaginary being inhabiting the air; a
fairy.
2. Fig.: A slender, graceful woman.
3. (Zoöl.) Any one of several
species of very brilliant South American humming birds, having a very
long and deeply-forked tail; as, the blue-tailed sylph
(Cynanthus cyanurus).
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
SYLPH, n. An immaterial but visible being that inhabited the air when
the air was an element and before it was fatally polluted with factory
smoke, sewer gas and similar products of civilization. Sylphs were
allied to gnomes, nymphs and salamanders, which dwelt, respectively,
in earth, water and fire, all now insalubrious. Sylphs, like fowls of
the air, were male and female, to no purpose, apparently, for if they
had progeny they must have nested in accessible places, none of the
chicks having ever been seen.
- 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
- A slender girl, usually graceful and sometimes with the implication of sublime station over everyday people.
quotations:
*"Her heart fluttered with expectation---her step was buoyant with hope, and she sprung into the carriage with the lightness of a sylph." — Mary Brunton (1778-1818), Self-Control: A Novel
- Extend this numbered list to define any additional definitions as a noun. Order the list from most common definition to least common. Begin each definition with a number sign ("#"). Do not add blank lines between definitions.
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia
You arrived at this page by searching for Silph
The correct Spelling of this word is: Sylph
Thank you for visiting FreeFactFinder. On our home page you will find extensive articles covering
a wide range of topics.
|
