What is "paranymph"

Paranymph \Par"a*nymph\, n. [L. paranymphus, Gr. ?; para` beside, near + ? a bride: cf. F. paranymphe.]

1. (Gr. Antiq.)

   1. A friend of the bridegroom who went with him in his chariot to fetch home the bride.
      --Milton.

   2. The bridesmaid who conducted the bride to the bridegroom.

2. Hence: An ally; a supporter or abettor.
   --Jer. Taylor.

n. 1 (context now rare English) A friend of the bridegroom, a best man; a bridesmaid. (from 16th c.) 2 (context now rare English) An ally or spokesman; someone who speaks in support of someone else. (from 16th c.)

A paranymph is a ceremonial assistant and/or coach in a ceremony. In ancient Greek weddings the bride and bridegroom were attended by paranymphs, and from this use it has been generalized to refer to attendants of doctoral students, best men and bridesmaids in weddings and the like. It can refer specifically to the friend of a bridegroom tasked with accompanying him in a chariot to fetch the bride home.

An obscure use of the word is as a spokesman for the bride or bridegroom, such as Cyrano de Bergerac towards Roxanne.

The word may also refer to a thought that is revealed only by a slip of the tongue, such as a Freudian slip, or a condition where such slippage is endemic.