nympholepsy

2 definitions found

nympholepsy - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nympholepsy \Nym"pho*lep`sy\ (n[i^]m"f[-o]*l[e^]p`s[y^]), n.
     [Gr. ny`mfh a nymph + lamba`nein to seize.]
     A species of demoniac enthusiasm or possession coming upon
     one who had accidentally looked upon a nymph; ecstasy. [R.]
     --De Quincey.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The nympholepsy of some fond despair.    --Byron.
     [1913 Webster]

nympholepsy - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  nympholepsy
      n 1: a frenzy of emotion; as for something unattainable