springnymph

Springnymph is a term used to describe a nymph associated with springs or fresh water in myth, folklore, or fantasy. In classical tradition such beings belong to the broader category of naiads, water nymphs who inhabit springs, rivers, lakes, and wells. A spring-nymph is typically imagined as a youthful, beautiful female spirit bound to a particular spring, safeguarding its waters and ensuring its vitality.

Naiads were among the minor deities in Greek and Roman thought and were believed to be guardians of their water places. They could aid travelers, bring healing, or bring favorable weather, while neglect or harm to their spring might provoke their anger. The exact abilities and temperaments of spring-nymphs vary across sources and stories.

In modern fantasy and literature, springnymphs are often used as personifications of renewal and springtime. They may have power over water or plant growth, resemble glimmering or translucent figures, or serve as guardians of natural sites. The term is commonly employed in worldbuilding to evoke spring imagery and the idea of fresh, living water.

Etymology: springnymph is a compound of spring and nymph. It is not a standard ancient label; rather, it is a modern or descriptive term drawn from English for water nymphs associated with springs.

See also: Naiad, Nymph, Water spirit, Spring (season).