Nympholepsy

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

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