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Meaning of changeling

Source language: EnglishDictionary language: English

changeling

Pronunciation:/ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/

noun

Definitions

  1. In pre-modern European mythology, an infant that was secretly exchanged for a mother's own baby by an evil creature. (In British, Irish and Scandinavian mythology the exchanged infants were thought to be those of fairies, sprites or trolls; in other places, they were ascribed to witches, devils, or demons.)

  2. An infant secretly exchanged with another infant by mistake or by human doing; swapling.

  3. An organism which can change shape to mimic others.

  4. A simpleton; an idiot.