| 释义 |
▪ I. † nymphal, n.1 Obs.
Also nimphall.
[ad. L. nymphāl-is belonging to nymphs: see nymph n. and -al1.]
a. A meeting or gathering of nymphs.
b. Used by Drayton as the name of each division of his Muses' Elysium.
1622Drayton Poly-olb. xx. 4 He that doth of sea the powerful trident weld, His Tritons made proclaim, a Nymphall to be held In honour of himself. 1630― Muses' Elys., Nymphal i, This Nimphall of delight doth treat, Choice beauties, and proportions meet.
▪ II. nymphal, a. (and n.2)|ˈnɪmfəl|
[f. as prec.]
A. adj.
1. Belonging to a nymph; consisting of nymphs.
1656Blount Glossogr., Nymphal, of or belonging to a Nymph or Bride; Nymph-like. 1842Fraser's Mag. XXVI. 79 Thou glory of the Nymphal train.
2. Of the nature of, pertaining to, a pupa.
1864Houghton in Intellect. Observ. Oct. 150 Not a particle of food has she [a may-fly] tasted since she left her nymphal state. 1884Michael Brit. Oribatidæ 22 Whether it was a mature or simply a nymphal form.
3. Including or belonging to the water-plants related to Nymphæa.
Lindley's nymphal alliance included the families Nymphæaceæ, Cabombaceæ, and Nelumbiaceæ.
1846Lindley Veget. Kingd. 408 Nymphales. The Nymphal Alliance. Ibid. 409 Nymphal Exogens, with a many-celled fruit and dissepimental placentæ.
B. n.2
1. [ad. F. nymphale.] A name for a class of butterflies.
1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XIII. 721/1 Mr. Barbut has divided them [sc. butterflies] into four sections... 4. The nymphals, whose wings are denticulated.
2. A plant belonging to the nymphal alliance.
1846Lindley Veget. Kingd. 408 To distinguish Nymphals with certainty from all those Orders with which they are here associated. |