nymph

Where does the word "nymph" come from? It comes from Greek nymphe, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Nymph’s story begins in Greek: nymphe meant “a young nature goddess.” A minor nature deity, often depicted as a young maiden. It reached English by 1300s as nymph. Broadened from mythology to also describe an insect's immature stage. Today, nymph means a mythical nature spirit, or the immature stage of certain insects.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient nymphe "a young nature goddess", a minor nature deity, often depicted as a young maiden.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s nymph "a minor nature deity, or an immature insect", broadened from mythology to also describe an insect's immature stage.