A paranymph is a ceremonial assistant or
coach
Coach may refer to:
Guidance/instruction
* Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities
* Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process
** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers
Transportation
* Co ...
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
wedding
A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vo ...
s 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
Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac ( , ; 6 March 1619 – 28 July 1655) was a French novelist, playwright, epistolarian, and duelist.
A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the 17th cen ...
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
In psychoanalysis, a Freudian slip, also called parapraxis, is an error in speech, memory, or physical action that occurs due to the interference of an unconscious subdued wish or internal train of thought. Classical examples involve slips of ...
, or a condition where such slippage is endemic.
Today, a paranymph is the name of a ceremonial hall in a university or college.
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, doctoral candidates may have two paranymphs (''paranimfen'') that are present at the doctoral thesis defence.
This ritual originates from the ancient concept where obtaining a doctorate was seen as a de facto marriage to the university. Furthermore the paranymphs would also act as a backup for the doctoral candidate to ask for advice when answering questions. Today their role is symbolic and seen as a position of honour similar to a best man or woman at a wedding.
A paranymph nowadays is therefore not required to have any knowledge of the subject matter.
References
{{Reflist, refs=
[{{cite web , last1=Strikkers , first1=Henk , title=UvA-geheimen: Waarom is er een paranimf bij promoties? , url=https://www.folia.nl/actueel/128271/uva-geheimen-waarom-is-er-een-paranimf-bij-promoties , website=Folia , access-date=28 June 2022]
[{{cite book , last1=van Ditzhuyzen , first1=Reinildis , title=De dikke Ditz: Hoe hoort het eigenlijk , date=2008 , publisher=Uitgeverij J.H. Gottmer/H.J.W. Becht BV , location=Haarlem, The Netherlands , isbn=978-90-230-1219-1]
[{{cite web , title=What is the role of a paranymph during your promotion? , url=https://www.gildeprint.nl/en/2020/06/09/role-paranymph-promotion/ , website=Gildeprint , access-date=28 June 2022]
Ritual
Marriage