sylphn.

Brit.

/sɪlf/, U.S.

/sɪlf/

Etymology: < modern Latin (plural) sylphes, German sylphen (Paracelsus De Nymphis, etc.), modern Latin sylphi (Paracelsus, Wks. 1658 II. 391). Compare French sylphe, Spanish silfo, Portuguese sylpho, etc. Littré conjectures a Gaulish origin, citing svlfis dative plural from Inscr. Helvet. no. 117 of Orelli, who connects the form with suleviæ female tutelary spirits venerated in Gaul (see Holder Altcelt. Sprachschatz s.v.). But Paracelsus's word may be an arbitrary coinage, perhaps a blend of sylvestris sylvester n.¹ 1 and nympha nymph n.¹

a. One of a race of beings or spirits supposed to inhabit the air (originally in the system of Paracelsus).

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [noun] > nymph > sylph

sylph1657

sylphid1680

1657 H. Pinnell tr. Crollius Philos. Reformed i. i. 26 (following Paracelsus) To the Earth doe belong Gnoms, Lemurs, Sylphs.

1680 A. L. tr. N. de Montfaucon de Villars Count of Gabalis 29 The Sylphs are composed of the purest atomes of air.

1699 J. Dryden Let. 12 Nov. in Wks. (1893) XVIII. 164 Whether Sylph or Nymph, I know not: those fine creatures..have a mind to be christen'd.

1714 A. Pope Rape of Lock (new ed.) i. 5 The light Coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair, And sport and flutter in the Fields of Air.

1714 A. Pope Rape of Lock (new ed.) Ep. According to these Gentlemen [sc. the Rosicrucians], the four Elements are inhabited by Spirits, which they call Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders.

1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 17 The Rosicrucian philosophy, in which gnomes, sylphs, salamanders, and nymphs were the spiritual agents, supposed capable of being governed or enslaved by man.

1830 W. Scott Lett. Demonol. & Witchcraft x. 347 They affirmed that they could bind to their service and imprison in a ring, a mirror, or a stone, some fairy, sylph or salamander.

1856 D. M. Mulock John Halifax I. x. 210 Though this lady did not look like a sylph or a wood-nymph—being neither very small nor very slight.

b. Applied to a graceful woman or girl; usually with implication of slender figure and light airy movement. (Cf. nymph n.¹ 2b.)

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > elegance > [noun] > gracefulness > graceful woman

fairy1838

sylph1839

1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxv. 239 She's the only sylph I ever saw who could stand upon one leg, and play the tambourine on her other knee, like a sylph.

1847 B. Disraeli Tancred II. iv. xi. 299 The mother..seemed a sylph or a sultana.

2. Gould's name for various hummingbirds with long forked tails.

ΚΠ

1861 J. Gould Monogr. Trochilidæ III. Pl. 172 Cynanthus cyanurus. Blue-Tailed Sylph.

1861 J. Gould Monogr. Trochilidæ III. Pl. 173 Cynanthus smaragdicaudus. Green-Tailed Sylph.

Compounds

Complementary, as sylph-looking adj.

ΚΠ

1850 H. Miller Scenes & Legends N. Scotl. (ed. 2) xx. 289 There tripped lightly along a sylph-looking creature.

Derivatives

ˈsylphic adj. = sylph-like adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [adjective] > of or relating to nymph(s) > of or relating to sylph

sylphish1754

sylphid1779

sylphic1821

sylphy1836

1821 New Monthly Mag. 2 361 This..cannot but be considered as an improvement even by the most prejudiced of the sylphic race.

1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 227 The sylphic daughters of Terpsichore.

ˈsylphish adj. = sylph-like adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [adjective] > of or relating to nymph(s) > of or relating to sylph

sylphish1754

sylphid1779

sylphic1821

sylphy1836

1754 Adventurer No. 93. II. 136 The images, customs, and employments of his [sc. Pope's] sylphs are exactly adapted to their natures..; are all, if I may be allowed the expression, Sylphish.

1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales II. 233 She was of a slender, delicate, and sylphish form.

ˈsylph-like adj. relating to, resembling, of the nature of, or characteristic of a sylph.

ΚΠ

1801 C. Wilmot Irish Peer on Continent (1920) 15 Madame, their Mother, was too much en bon point to have such a sylphlike appearance as her daughters.

1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor iv, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 98 The sylph-like form disencumbered of her heavy riding-skirt, and mantled in azure silk.

1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. III. 82 A sylph-like gracefulness in their figures and actions.

1833 T. Hook Parson's Daughter III. ix. 221 Lady Katherine..gliding sylph-like across the room, seated herself by his side.

ˈsylphy adj. = sylph-like adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [adjective] > of or relating to nymph(s) > of or relating to sylph

sylphish1754

sylphid1779

sylphic1821

sylphy1836

1836 T. Hook Gilbert Gurney I. vii. 283 There was a swan-like swimmingness about her air and gait—a sort of sylphy something that rivetted the attention.

1842 United Service Mag. i. 383 Her chaplet of bright flowers and expanded sylphy wing.

ˈsylphize v. (transitive) to give a sylphish character to.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [verb (transitive)] > make like a sylph

sylphize1802

sylvanize1835

1802 A. Seward Lett. (1811) VI. 27 The Gothic mythology, demonized by the elder bards of Caledonia, sylphized by Shakespeare, and the British poets.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	sylph
释义	sylphn. Brit. /sɪlf/, U.S. /sɪlf/ Etymology: < modern Latin (plural) sylphes, German sylphen (Paracelsus De Nymphis, etc.), modern Latin sylphi (Paracelsus, Wks. 1658 II. 391). Compare French sylphe, Spanish silfo, Portuguese sylpho, etc. Littré conjectures a Gaulish origin, citing svlfis dative plural from Inscr. Helvet. no. 117 of Orelli, who connects the form with suleviæ female tutelary spirits venerated in Gaul (see Holder Altcelt. Sprachschatz s.v.). But Paracelsus's word may be an arbitrary coinage, perhaps a blend of sylvestris sylvester n.¹ 1 and nympha nymph n.¹ 1. a. One of a race of beings or spirits supposed to inhabit the air (originally in the system of Paracelsus). ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [noun] > nymph > sylph sylph1657 sylphid1680 1657 H. Pinnell tr. Crollius Philos. Reformed i. i. 26 (following Paracelsus) To the Earth doe belong Gnoms, Lemurs, Sylphs. 1680 A. L. tr. N. de Montfaucon de Villars Count of Gabalis 29 The Sylphs are composed of the purest atomes of air. 1699 J. Dryden Let. 12 Nov. in Wks. (1893) XVIII. 164 Whether Sylph or Nymph, I know not: those fine creatures..have a mind to be christen'd. 1714 A. Pope Rape of Lock (new ed.) i. 5 The light Coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair, And sport and flutter in the Fields of Air. 1714 A. Pope Rape of Lock (new ed.) Ep. According to these Gentlemen [sc. the Rosicrucians], the four Elements are inhabited by Spirits, which they call Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders. 1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 17 The Rosicrucian philosophy, in which gnomes, sylphs, salamanders, and nymphs were the spiritual agents, supposed capable of being governed or enslaved by man. 1830 W. Scott Lett. Demonol. & Witchcraft x. 347 They affirmed that they could bind to their service and imprison in a ring, a mirror, or a stone, some fairy, sylph or salamander. 1856 D. M. Mulock John Halifax I. x. 210 Though this lady did not look like a sylph or a wood-nymph—being neither very small nor very slight. b. Applied to a graceful woman or girl; usually with implication of slender figure and light airy movement. (Cf. nymph n.¹ 2b.) ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > elegance > [noun] > gracefulness > graceful woman fairy1838 sylph1839 1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxv. 239 She's the only sylph I ever saw who could stand upon one leg, and play the tambourine on her other knee, like a sylph. 1847 B. Disraeli Tancred II. iv. xi. 299 The mother..seemed a sylph or a sultana. 2. Gould's name for various hummingbirds with long forked tails. ΚΠ 1861 J. Gould Monogr. Trochilidæ III. Pl. 172 Cynanthus cyanurus. Blue-Tailed Sylph. 1861 J. Gould Monogr. Trochilidæ III. Pl. 173 Cynanthus smaragdicaudus. Green-Tailed Sylph. Compounds Complementary, as sylph-looking adj. ΚΠ 1850 H. Miller Scenes & Legends N. Scotl. (ed. 2) xx. 289 There tripped lightly along a sylph-looking creature. Derivatives ˈsylphic adj. = sylph-like adj. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [adjective] > of or relating to nymph(s) > of or relating to sylph sylphish1754 sylphid1779 sylphic1821 sylphy1836 1821 New Monthly Mag. 2 361 This..cannot but be considered as an improvement even by the most prejudiced of the sylphic race. 1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 227 The sylphic daughters of Terpsichore. ˈsylphish adj. = sylph-like adj. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [adjective] > of or relating to nymph(s) > of or relating to sylph sylphish1754 sylphid1779 sylphic1821 sylphy1836 1754 Adventurer No. 93. II. 136 The images, customs, and employments of his [sc. Pope's] sylphs are exactly adapted to their natures..; are all, if I may be allowed the expression, Sylphish. 1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales II. 233 She was of a slender, delicate, and sylphish form. ˈsylph-like adj. relating to, resembling, of the nature of, or characteristic of a sylph. ΚΠ 1801 C. Wilmot Irish Peer on Continent (1920) 15 Madame, their Mother, was too much en bon point to have such a sylphlike appearance as her daughters. 1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor iv, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 98 The sylph-like form disencumbered of her heavy riding-skirt, and mantled in azure silk. 1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. III. 82 A sylph-like gracefulness in their figures and actions. 1833 T. Hook Parson's Daughter III. ix. 221 Lady Katherine..gliding sylph-like across the room, seated herself by his side. ˈsylphy adj. = sylph-like adj. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [adjective] > of or relating to nymph(s) > of or relating to sylph sylphish1754 sylphid1779 sylphic1821 sylphy1836 1836 T. Hook Gilbert Gurney I. vii. 283 There was a swan-like swimmingness about her air and gait—a sort of sylphy something that rivetted the attention. 1842 United Service Mag. i. 383 Her chaplet of bright flowers and expanded sylphy wing. ˈsylphize v. (transitive) to give a sylphish character to. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [verb (transitive)] > make like a sylph sylphize1802 sylvanize1835 1802 A. Seward Lett. (1811) VI. 27 The Gothic mythology, demonized by the elder bards of Caledonia, sylphized by Shakespeare, and the British poets. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1657
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