The nympholepsy of some fond despair. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
nympholepsy — (n.) frenzy or rapture supposed to take hold of a man upon gazing on a nymph, 1775, coined by Richard Chandler, in Travels in Greece, from NYMPH (Cf. nymph), on model of EPILEPSY (Cf. epilepsy), with second element from stem of Gk. lambanein to… … Etymology dictionary
nympholepsy — [nim′fō lep΄sē, nim′fəlep΄sē] n. [< Gr nympholēptos, seized by nymphs (< nymphē + lēptos, seized < lambanein, to seize, assume: see LEMMA1), infl. by EPILEPSY] 1. in ancient times, a state of frenzy that was believed to seize any man who … English World dictionary
nympholepsy — noun Etymology: nympholept, from Greek nympholēptos frenzied, literally, caught by nymphs, from nymphē + lambanein to seize more at latch Date: 1775 1. a demonic enthusiasm held by the ancients to seize one bewitched by a nymph 2. a frenzy of… … New Collegiate Dictionary
nympholepsy — nympholeptic /nim feuh lep tik/, adj. /nim feuh lep see/, n., pl. nympholepsies. 1. an ecstasy supposed by the ancients to be inspired by nymphs. 2. a frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable. [1765 75; formed on NYMPHOLEPT, on the model… … Universalium
nympholepsy — noun /ˈnɪmfəˌlɛpsi/ A frenzied state of (usually erotic) emotion, especially concerning something or someone unattainable. If young persons of both sexes were brought together in the honest practical relations of organized labor, we should see no … Wiktionary
nympholepsy — Demoniac frenzy, especially of an erotic nature. [nympho + G. lepsis, a seizure] * * * nym·pho·lep·sy nim(p) fə .lep sē n, pl sies a frenzy of erotic emotion … Medical dictionary
nympholepsy — nɪmfÉ™lepsɪ n. ecstatic state supposedly caused by nymphs; emotional frenzy … English contemporary dictionary
nympholepsy — [ nɪmfə(ʊ)ˌlɛpsi] noun literary frenzy caused by desire for the unattainable. Derivatives nympholept noun nympholeptic adjective Origin C18: from Gk numpholēptos caught by nymphs , on the pattern of epilepsy … English new terms dictionary
nympholepsy — nym·pho·lep·sy … English syllables
nympholepsy — /ˈnɪmfəlɛpsi/ (say nimfuhlepsee) noun (plural nympholepsies) 1. an ecstasy supposedly inspired by nymphs. 2. a frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable. {blend of nympholept and epilepsy} –nympholeptic /nɪmfəˈlɛptɪk/ (say nimfuh leptik),… …
