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Webster 1913 Edition

Werewolf

Were′wolfˊ

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Werewolves
(#)
.
[AS.
werwulf
;
wer
a man +
wulf
a wolf; cf. G.
wärwolf
,
währwolf
,
wehrwolf
, a werewolf, MHG.
werwolf
. √285. See
Were
a man, and
Wolf
, and cf.
Virile
,
World
.]
A person transformed into a wolf in form and appetite, either temporarily or permanently, whether by supernatural influences, by witchcraft, or voluntarily; a lycanthrope. Belief in werewolves, formerly general, is not now extinct.
The
werwolf
went about his prey.
William of Palerne.
The brutes that wear our form and face,
The
werewolves
of the human race.
Longfellow.

Definition 2024

werewolf

werewolf

English

Alternative forms

Noun

werewolf ‎(plural werewolves)

  1. (mythology) A person who is transformed or can transform into a wolf or a wolflike human, often said to transform during a full moon.

Derived terms

Synonyms

Translations

See also

Etymology

From Middle English werwolf, from Old English werwulf ‎(“werewoulf”, literally “man-wolf”), from Proto-Germanic *werawulfaz ‎(“wolf-man”), from Proto-Germanic elements *weraz ‎(“man”) + Proto-Germanic *wulfaz ‎(“wolf”). Equivalent to wer +‎ wolf or were- +‎ wolf. Cognate with Dutch weerwolf ‎(“werewolf”), Low German Warwulf, German Werwolf ‎(“werewolf”), Danish varulv ‎(“werewolf”), Swedish varulv ‎(“werewolf”). Compare also French garou, in loup-garou ‎(“werewolf”), French dialectal gairou, varou ‎(“werewolf”), Medieval Latin gerulphus, garulphus ‎(“werewolf”) (< Germanic).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈwɛːwʊlf/, /ˈwɪəwʊlf/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈwɛərwʊlf/, /ˈwɪərwʊlf/, /ˈwɜrwʊlf/

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