werewolf

or wer·wolf

[ wair-woolf, weer-, wur- ]

noun

, plural were·wolves [wair, -w, oo, lvz, weer, -, wur, -].

1. (in folklore and superstition) a human being who has changed into a wolf, or is capable of assuming the form of a wolf, while retaining human intelligence.

werewolf

/ ˈwɛə-; ˈwɪəˌwʊlf /

noun

1. a person fabled in folklore and superstition to have been changed into a wolf by being bewitched or said to be able to assume wolf form at will

Word History and Origins

Origin of werewolf¹

before 1000; Middle English werwolf, Old English werwulf, equivalent to wer man (cognate with Gothic wair, Latin vir ) + wulf wolf; cognate with Middle Dutch weerwolf, Old High German werwolf

Word History and Origins

Origin of werewolf¹

Old English werewulf, from wer man + wulf wolf ; related to Old High German werwolf, Middle Dutch weerwolf

Example Sentences

Dead animals littered the side of the road; deer, raccoons, something that looked like a purple jackal, a Chupacabra or two, what looked like a werewolf, and at least one low-flying turkey vulture.

From Salon

Dunne carved his own path, starring in the films “An American Werewolf in London,” “After Hours” and “Johnny Dangerously,” while producing movies that included “Running on Empty.”

From Los Angeles Times

In 1974, he was recruited by Roy Thomas, an editor at Marvel, to draw the series “Werewolf by Night.”

From Seattle Times

In 1974, he was recruited by Roy Thomas, an editor at Marvel, to draw the series Werewolf by Night.

From New York Times

“Is she talking to a werewolf?”

From Literature

Related Words

• behemoth
• freak
• giant
• whale