browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
sylph |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sylph \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. (Zo["o]l.) 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}). From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: sylph n 1: a slender graceful young woman 2: an elemental being believed to inhabit the air From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: 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.
more about sylph
This work is licensed under a
