νύμφ-η, ἡ
(Epic dialect vocative νύμφᾰ [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 3.130, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.743 ] Refs 8th c.BC+] (Aeolic dialect accusative to [[ 4th-5th c.AD: Choeroboscus Grammaticus “Scholia in Theodosii Canones” 1.304) ] Refs 4th c.AD+]; later also as nominative, [[“Anthologia Graeca” 14.43 ] Refs]; but Doric dialect νύμφᾱ), young wife, bride, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 18.492, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 4.172; ν. ἄγεσθαι 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Plutus” 529; Ἀελίοιο 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 7.14 ] Refs 8th c.BC+]; opposed to νυμφίος, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Leges” 783e ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to παρθένος, [[ 5th c.BC: Praxilla Lyrica 5, “Comica Adespota” 1215; always relatively young, as Iris calls Helen, or as Eurycleia calls Penelope, νύμφα φίλη 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 3.130, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.743, compare 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 150, “Andr.” 140 (both Lyric poetry). ] Refs 8th c.BC+]
__2 marriageable maiden, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 9.560, 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Theogonia” 298. ] Refs 8th c.BC+]
__3 daughter-in-law, [[ LXX.1Ki.4.19, NT.Matt.10.35. ] LXX+NT]
__4 young girl, πενταέτης ν. [[ “IG” 14.2040.2. ] Refs]
__II “Nymph” or goddess of lower rank, θεαὶ Νύμφαι [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 24.616, compare 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Theogonia” 130, “fragment” 171.5, +others, “IG” 12(8).358 (Thasos, 5th c.BC); N. κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 6.105; N. ἅλιαι 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 1470 ] Refs 8th c.BC+] (anapaest meter; compare Ναϊάς, Νηρηΐς); N. Ὀρεστιάδες, Ὀρειάδες, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 6.420, 2nd c.BC: Bion Bucolicus 1.19, compare 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Aves” 1098 (Lyric poetry); N. Μελίαι 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Theogonia” 187, compare Ἀδρυάδες, Ἁμαδρυάδες, Δρυάδες ] Refs 8th c.BC+]; N. ὑάδες, ὑδριάδες, [[ [prev. author] “fragment” 180, 3rd c.AD: Porphyrius Tyrius Philosophus “de Antro Nympharum - Porphyrii Opuscula” 18 ] Refs 3rd c.AD+]; N. λειμωνιάδες, πετραῖαι, [[ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 1454 (_anapaest meter_), 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Electra” 805. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]