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plural sylphs
(mythology) An invisible being of the air. quotations
Her heart fluttered with expectation—her step was buoyant with hope, and she sprung into the carriage with the lightness of a sylph.
1811, Mary Brunton, Self-Control
Necromancy meant originally the conjuring up the souls of the dead, and later included the conjuring of all sorts of inhuman spirits such as sylphs, giants, and djinn.
1941, Rupert Gleadow, Magic and Divination, page 125
The elemental being of air, usually female. examples
(by extension) A slender woman or girl, usually graceful and sometimes with the implication of sublime station over everyday people. examples
(ornithology) Any of the mainly dark green and blue hummingbirds (genus Aglaiocercus), the male of which has a long forked tail.