nymphet

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From nymph + -et (diminutive), first attested 1612. The second sense was popularized by Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel Lolita.

Noun

nymphet (plural nymphets)

  1. (obsolete) A small nymph. [17th-19th c.]
  2. A sexually attractive girl or young woman. [from 20th c.]

Usage notes

More common than the alternative spelling nymphette, which uses the more standard feminine suffix -ette.

Synonyms

Translations

References

  • The changing English language, Brian Foster, 1968, pp. 185–186 – on spelling nymphet versus nymphette
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.