fairy
/ˈfɛəri/
noun
Origin
Old French
faerie — enchantment, illusion, or land of the fays
Overview
Meaning Now
- A small, supernatural being in human form, often endowed with magical powers, common in European folklore.
- A legendary creature characterized by mischief, grace, or hidden influence over human affairs.
Literal older meaning
enchantment or land of the fays
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
faerie
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The concept of the fairy in English tradition is a complex synthesis of Celtic myth, classical Roman concepts of the Fates (Fata), and Germanic folklore. Originally, the term described the 'state of enchantment' rather than the creature itself. Over time, the image of fairies evolved from human-sized, sometimes menacing beings in medieval romances to the small, winged, and often benign creatures popularized in Victorian literature.
Evolution
- Latin
fata
“the Fates”
Plural of fatum, referring to the goddesses of destiny.
- Old French
fae
“fey; supernatural being”
- Middle English
faerie
“enchantment; the realm of supernatural beings”
Used collectively to describe the state of being magical.
- Modern English
fairy
“a diminutive supernatural entity”
Shifted from the abstract state of 'enchantment' to the concrete entity itself.
Connections
Word parts
fair
root
magic; enchantment (via OF fae)
-y
suffix
suffix forming collective nouns
Related across languages
French
fée
fairy
Italian
fata
fairy
Spanish
hada
fairy
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Related to fairy
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.