paranymph

Meanings

nounparanymph (plural paranymphs)

archaicA friend of the bridegroom; a best man; a bridesmaid.First known use 16th c.
Thy Paranymph, worthleſs to thee compar'd, […]
1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 63, line 631
archaicAn ally or spokesman; someone who speaks in support of someone else.First known use 16th c.
But it is the basest of all when lust is the paranymph, and solicits the suit, and makes the contract, and joins the hands; […]
1653, “Twenty-five Sermons Preached at Golden Grove; Being for the Winter Half-year, […]: Sermon XVII. The Marriage Ring; or, The Mysteriousness and Duties of Marriage. Part I.”, in Reginald Heber, editor, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, D.D. […], volume V, London: Ogle, Duncan, and Co. […]; and Richard Priestley, […], published 1822, →OCLC, page 257

From Middle French paranymphe, from Latin paranymphus, from Ancient Greek παράνυμφος (paránumphos, “friend of bridegroom”), from παρα- (para-, “para-”) + νύμφη (númphē, “bride”).

Ancient Greek πᾰρᾰ́νῠμφος

Catalan paranimf

Chinese Mandarin 儐相 /傧相

French paranymphe

Greek παράνυμφος

Italian paraninfo

Latin paranymphus, paranympha

Portuguese paraninfo

Spanish paraninfo

Cite this entry

APA

paranymph. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paranymph

MLA

“paranymph.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paranymph. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paranymph,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paranymph.