Nymphæ, Maydens of the sea: Elfes. Sometime the Muses.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
nympha, ae, and nymphē, ēs (dat. plur. NYMPHABVS, Inscr. Orell. 1629; NYMFABVS, ib. 1630; NYMPHIS, ib. 1627; 1630 sq.), f., = nu/mfh. I.A bride, a mistress, Ov. H. 1, 27; Tib. 3, 1, 21 (al. merita).—2.A young woman: se quoque nympha tuis ornavit Iardanis armis, Ov. H. 9, 103.—II. Nymphae, demi-goddesses, who inhabit the sea, rivers, fountains, woods, trees, and mountains; nymphs: Nymphae, genus amnibus unde est, Verg. A. 8, 71; 10, 551; Ov. M. 5, 540: Nympha Maenalis, i. e.
Carmenta, the mother of Evander
, id. F. 1, 634: Nymphae Libethrides,
the Muses
, Verg. E. 7, 21: vocalis Nymphe,
Echo
, Ov. M. 3, 357. Vows were made to the fountain-nymphs in cases of sickness or of drought, Cic. N. D. 3, 17, 43; Inscr. Orell. 1631 sq.—B.Transf., water (poet.): et cadit in patulos Nympha Aniena lacus, Prop. 3, 16 (4, 15), 4.—2.A fountain, Mart. 6, 43, 2.—C.The pupa or nymph of an insect: alius evolat, alius in nymphā est, alius in vermiculo, Plin. 11, 21, 24, 71; 11, 16, 16, 48.