sylph
Willowy, ethereal woman
A sylph is a slender, graceful woman or girl.
The word comes from mythology—elemental spirits of the air imagined by Renaissance alchemists.
That airy, ethereal quality carries into modern use: She moved across the stage like a sylph.
The adjective sylphlike describes someone with that delicate, willowy build.
Filmy, delicate material
- wispyThin and insubstantial
- diaphanousDelicately translucent
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- vaporousLike a gas, diffuse
insubstantial · intangible · phantasmal · spectral · ghostly · shimmering · luminous · delicate
Tiny magical creature
- fairyTiny winged magical creature
- pixieTiny magical troublemaker
- dryadTree-dwelling nature spirit
- undineFemale water spirit
salamander · gnome · naiad · nereid · spirit · elemental · nature spirit · guardian
Tall, slim, pliant
- litheSupple and graceful
- lissomeGracefully flexible and slender
- svelteGracefully slender
- slenderThin and graceful
supple · elegant · poised · fluid · nimble · dainty · airy · light-footed
Abandoned, neglected child
- ingenueArtless young woman
- maidenUnmarried young woman
- spriteTiny magical creature
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
slender · petite · elfin · fey · girlish · slight · dainty · willowy
Classic ballet heroine
- tutuShort projecting dance skirt
- pointeBallet's tiptoe technique
- ballerinaClassical female dancer
- corps de balletBallet's ensemble performers
variation · divertissement · pas de deux · adagio · ethereal · floating · supernatural · choreography
gossamer
Filmy, delicate material
- wispyThin and insubstantial
- diaphanousDelicately translucent
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
vaporous · insubstantial · intangible · phantasmal · spectral · ghostly · shimmering · luminous · delicate · fragile
sprite
Tiny magical creature
undine · salamander · gnome · naiad · nereid · spirit · elemental · nature spirit · guardian · woodland
willowy
Tall, slim, pliant
slender · supple · elegant · poised · fluid · nimble · dainty · airy · light-footed · gliding
waif
Abandoned, neglected child
delicate · slender · petite · elfin · fey · girlish · slight · dainty · willowy · gracile
Giselle
Classic ballet heroine
corps de ballet · variation · divertissement · pas de deux · adagio · ethereal · floating · supernatural · choreography
wings
Limbs for flight
- flutteringLight, rapid movement
- hoveringSuspended without support
- airborneTraveling through air
flight · feathered · dragonfly · butterfly · gossamer wings · soaring · gliding · aerial · aloft · wingbeat
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- supernatural beingsghost, demon, phantom, specter, banshee
- enchanted creaturesfairy, fairies, unicorn, unicorns, dragon
- Fairiesfairies, faeries, fairy queen, fairy dust, fairy wings
- Little Folkgnome, gnomes, dwarf, dwarfs, elf
- skinnythin, slim, slender, lean, skinny