werewolf

or wer·wolf

[ wair-woo lf, weer-, wur- ]
/ ˈwɛərˌwʊlf, ˈwɪər-, ˈwɜr- /

noun, plural were·wolves [wair-woo lvz, weer-, wur-] /ˈwɛərˌwʊlvz, ˈwɪər-, ˈwɜr-/.

(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.

Origin of werewolf

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

Words nearby werewolf

Example sentences from the Web for werewolves

British Dictionary definitions for werewolves

werewolf
/ (ˈwɪəˌwʊlf, ˈwɛə-) /

noun plural -wolves

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 Origin for werewolf

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

Cultural definitions for werewolves

werewolves

Legendary human beings who are magically transformed into wolves. Werewolves supposedly prowl at night, devouring babies and digging up corpses, and cannot be killed with ordinary weapons. They are particularly associated with the full moon.