See changeling on Wiktionary
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"3": "ling",
"pos2": "suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’"
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"etymology_text": "The noun is derived from change + -ling (suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’). Sense 6 (“idiot, simpleton”) is from the idea that foolish children had been left by magical creatures (sense 1).\nThe adjective is derived from the noun.",
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"form": "changelings",
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{
"ref": "[c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame. […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, […], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:",
"text": "[S]he, as her attendant, hath / A louely boy ſtollen, from an Indian king: / She neuer had ſo ſweete a changeling.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Symptomes or Signes of Love Melancholy, in Body, Minde, Good, Bad, &c.”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy. […], 5th edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [Robert Young, Miles Flesher, and Leonard Lichfield and William Turner] for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 3, section 2, member 3, subsection 1, page 515:",
"text": "Every Lover admires his miſtris, though ſhee be very deformed of her ſelfe, [...] her feet ſtinke, ſhee breed lice, a meere changeling, a very monſter, [...]: if he loue her once, he admires her for all this, he takes no notice of any ſuch errors, or imperfections of body or minde.",
"type": "quote"
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{
"ref": "1709, Earl of Murlgrave [i.e., John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, formerly Earl of Mulgrave], An Essay on Poetry, London: […] H. Hills, […], →OCLC, page 15:",
"text": "Juſt as a Changeling ſeems below the reſt / Of Men, or rather is a two-legg’d Beaſt, / So theſe Gigantick Souls amaz'd we find / As much above the reſt of human kind.",
"type": "quote"
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{
"ref": "1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 298:",
"text": "It was easy enough to see that the child was a changeling, for it wasn't like other children at all it screamed and cried, as if a knife stuck in it, and it wheezed and hit about with its arms like a huldre-cat, and was as ugly as sin.",
"type": "quote"
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{
"ref": "1961, Muriel Saint Clare Byrne, Elizabethan Life in Town and Country, 8th edition, London: Methuen & Co., →OCLC, page 285:",
"text": "His nurse had told him all about changelings, and how the little people would always try to steal a beautiful human child out of its cradle and put in its stead one of their own ailing, puking brats [...]",
"type": "quote"
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],
"glosses": [
"In pre-modern European folklore: an infant of a magical creature that was secretly exchanged for a human infant. 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 demons, devils, or witches."
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],
[
"infant",
"infant"
],
[
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"magical"
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[
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[
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[
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[
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"devil"
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[
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"(European folklore, also figurative) In pre-modern European folklore: an infant of a magical creature that was secretly exchanged for a human infant. 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 demons, devils, or witches."
],
"synonyms": [
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"word": "auf"
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{
"word": "oaf"
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"word": "swapling"
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"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "خائن"
},
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"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "調換兒"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "diàohuànr",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "调换儿"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "da",
"lang": "Danish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "skifting"
},
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"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
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"word": "wisselbalg"
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"code": "nl",
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"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
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],
"word": "wisselkind"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "vaihdokas"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "changelin"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "changeling"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "Dickkopf"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "Kielkropf"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"neuter"
],
"word": "Wechselbalg"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Wechselkind"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "is",
"lang": "Icelandic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "umskiptingur"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "carrachán linbh"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "fágálach"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "iarmhar"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "iarlais"
},
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"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
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],
"word": "malartán"
},
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"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "páiste a tugadh as"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "síofra"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "síogaí linbh"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"alt": "おにご",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "onigo",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "鬼子"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"alt": "とりかえこ",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "torikaeko",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "取り替え子"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "la",
"lang": "Latin",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "cambiō"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "gv",
"lang": "Manx",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "faagailagh"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "gv",
"lang": "Manx",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "lhiannoo shee"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "nv",
"lang": "Navajo",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "nádleehé"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "fa",
"lang": "Persian",
"roman": "'avazi",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "عوضی"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "fa",
"lang": "Persian",
"roman": "toxm-e jen",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "تخمِ جن"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "odmieniec"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "podményš",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "подме́ныш"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "sco",
"lang": "Scots",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "ta'en-awa'"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "sco",
"lang": "Scots",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "witch-wean"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "sìthbheire"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "tàchaire"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "tàcharan"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "tàcharan-sìthe"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "sh",
"lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "promenant"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "niño cambiado"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "bortbyting"
},
{
"_dis1": "54 10 21 9 6 0",
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "plentyn cael"
}
]
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"ref": "1717, [John Lewis], A Few English Notes on a Late Sermon Preached before the Sons of the Clergy by Dr. [Thomas] Bisse, Intended to Vindicate the English Reformation from the Charge of Sacrilege, Fraud, &c. […], London: […] James Knapton, […]; and sold by John Morphew, […], →OCLC, page 15:",
"text": "When I firſt read Mr. Walker’s Circular Letter to the Arch-deacons, I fancied he intended to give us an Account of thoſe worthy Men, [...] But after about ten Years going with this Work, and that the Time of its Birth was come, I ſoon found it to be a perfect Changeling. Inſtead of what I expected it to be, I ſaw a huge Heap of the moſt Heterogeneous Characters, [...] a great many of them much more deſerving to have their Names blotted out, than their Memory to be preſerved.",
"type": "quote"
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],
"glosses": [
"A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else."
],
"id": "en-changeling-en-noun-MBlp3eA1",
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[
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[
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"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension) A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else."
],
"tags": [
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]
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{
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{
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{
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{
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{
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{
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{
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"kind": "topical",
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"Human",
"All topics",
"Fundamental"
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}
],
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],
"id": "en-changeling-en-noun-kGIIo0S~",
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[
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"deliberately"
],
[
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"mistake"
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[
"swapling",
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],
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"(by extension, informal, rare) An infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling."
],
"tags": [
"broadly",
"informal",
"rare"
]
},
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"kind": "topical",
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"Artistic works",
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"_dis": "2 19 3 10 50 15 1",
"kind": "topical",
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"Speculative fiction",
"Artistic works",
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"Entertainment",
"Culture",
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"kind": "topical",
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"Artistic works",
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"All topics",
"Fundamental"
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},
{
"_dis": "8 25 7 13 21 26 0",
"kind": "topical",
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"name": "People",
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"Human",
"All topics",
"Fundamental"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "2 27 3 10 42 16 0",
"kind": "topical",
"langcode": "en",
"name": "Shapeshifters",
"orig": "en:Shapeshifters",
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"Characters from folklore",
"Mythological creatures",
"Fictional characters",
"Folklore",
"Fantasy",
"Mythology",
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"Speculative fiction",
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"Fundamental"
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{
"_dis": "1 19 4 17 33 25 1",
"kind": "topical",
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"Fiction",
"Artistic works",
"Art",
"Culture",
"Society",
"All topics",
"Fundamental"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
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"An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter."
],
"id": "en-changeling-en-noun-2uM1Qzdl",
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[
"fantasy",
"fantasy"
],
[
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"science fiction"
],
[
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"organism"
],
[
"change",
"change"
],
[
"shape",
"shape"
],
[
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"mimic"
],
[
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"shape-shifter"
]
],
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"(fantasy, science fiction) An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter."
],
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{
"word": "shape-shifter"
}
],
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"literature",
"media",
"publishing",
"science-fiction"
]
},
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{
"_dis": "4 30 5 14 25 21 1",
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{
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{
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},
{
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{
"_dis": "4 25 5 15 27 23 1",
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{
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{
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"ref": "c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:",
"text": "To face the garment of rebellion / With ſome fine colour that may pleaſe the eye / Of fickle changlings and poore diſcontents, / Which gape and rub the elbow at the newes / Of hurly-burly innouation, [...]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1760, [William] Kenrick, Falstaff’s Wedding: A Comedy. […], London: […] J. Wilkie, …, →OCLC, act II, scene vi, page 28:",
"text": "Fal[staff]. [...] If you will lodge with me in Eaſtcheap, you ſhall ſee the thouſand pound fairly ſpent in ſack: you ſhall ſhare with me to the utmoſt farthing. But for dry reſtitution, I have not been accustom'd to it of many years. You would not have me a changeling at this time of day, I hope, Maſter Shallow. / Shal[low]. Changeling! no, Sir John, thou art no changeling; but, depend on it, I will not put up with this wrong. [...] I will have my money; depend on't I will have my money.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XVI, page 26:",
"text": "What words are these have fall’n from me?\nCan calm despair and wild unrest\nBe tenants of a single breast,\nOr sorrow such a changeling be?",
"type": "quote"
}
],
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"A person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer."
],
"id": "en-changeling-en-noun-phjIjASZ",
"links": [
[
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"apt"
],
[
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],
[
"think",
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[
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]
],
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],
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{
"word": "turncoat"
}
],
"tags": [
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"archaic",
"figuratively"
]
},
{
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{
"ref": "1622, John Rawlins, The Famovs and Wonderfvll Recoverie of a Ship of Bristoll, Called the Exchange, from the Turkish Pirates of Argier. […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Nathaniel Butter, […], →OCLC:",
"text": "They alſo obſerue Lunaticks and changelings, and the Coniurer writeth downe their ſayings in a booke, groueling on the ground, as if he whiſperd to the Deuill to tell him the truth, and ſo expoundeth the letter, as it were by inſpiration.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1669 June (first performance), John Dryden, Tyrannick Love, or, The Royal Martyr. […], London: […] H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1670, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i, page 34:",
"text": "We wander in the Fields of Air below: / Changlings and Fooles of Heav'n: and thence ſhut out, / Wildly we roam in diſcontent about: [...]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1740, Erasmus, “A Panegyrick upon Folly, Declamation-wise”, in W. Kennet [i.e., White Kennett], transl., The Praise of Folly. Made English from the Latin of Erasmus. […], 6th edition, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 59:",
"text": "[C]an there be any one Sort of Men that enjoy themſelves better than thoſe which we call Idiots, Changelings, Fools, and Naturals? It may perhaps ſound harſh, but upon due Conſideration it will be found abundantly true, that theſe Perſons in all Circumſtances fare beſt, and live moſt comfortably: [...]",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"An idiot, a simpleton."
],
"id": "en-changeling-en-noun-Vhq~7UeJ",
"links": [
[
"idiot",
"idiot"
],
[
"simpleton",
"simpleton"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) An idiot, a simpleton."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "idiot"
}
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
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}
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{
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"3": "ling",
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},
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"name": "suffix"
},
{
"args": {
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}
],
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"forms": [
{
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"tags": [
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]
},
{
"form": "most changeling",
"tags": [
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]
}
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"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "adj",
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{
"ref": "1719, John Donne, “Satyre I”, in Poems on Several Occasions. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, and sold by William Taylor […], →OCLC, page 107:",
"text": "Away thou changeling motley humouriſt, / Leave me, and in this ſtanding wooden cheſt, / Conſorted with theſe few books, let me lye / In priſon, and here be coffin'd, when I dye.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Changeable, fickle, inconstant, wavering."
],
"id": "en-changeling-en-adj-zHtTVI5O",
"links": [
[
"Changeable",
"changeable"
],
[
"fickle",
"fickle"
],
[
"inconstant",
"inconstant"
],
[
"wavering",
"wavering#Adjective"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(archaic, rare) Changeable, fickle, inconstant, wavering."
],
"related": [
{
"word": "foundling"
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "changeable"
}
],
"tags": [
"archaic",
"rare"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"audio": "En-us-changeling.oga",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a6/En-us-changeling.oga/En-us-changeling.oga.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/En-us-changeling.oga"
}
],
"word": "changeling"
}
{
"categories": [
"English adjectives",
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms suffixed with -ling",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"Terms with Arabic translations",
"Terms with Danish translations",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Icelandic translations",
"Terms with Irish translations",
"Terms with Japanese translations",
"Terms with Latin translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Manx translations",
"Terms with Navajo translations",
"Terms with Persian translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Scots translations",
"Terms with Scottish Gaelic translations",
"Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Swedish translations",
"Terms with Welsh translations",
"en:Babies",
"en:Characters from folklore",
"en:Fictional abilities",
"en:Mythological creatures",
"en:People",
"en:Shapeshifters",
"en:Stock characters"
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "suffix"
},
"expansion": "suffix",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "change",
"3": "ling",
"pos2": "suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’"
},
"expansion": "change + -ling (suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’)",
"name": "suffix"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "adjective"
},
"expansion": "adjective",
"name": "glossary"
}
],
"etymology_text": "The noun is derived from change + -ling (suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’). Sense 6 (“idiot, simpleton”) is from the idea that foolish children had been left by magical creatures (sense 1).\nThe adjective is derived from the noun.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "changelings",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "changeling (plural changelings)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"change‧ling"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"en:European folklore"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "[c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame. […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, […], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:",
"text": "[S]he, as her attendant, hath / A louely boy ſtollen, from an Indian king: / She neuer had ſo ſweete a changeling.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Symptomes or Signes of Love Melancholy, in Body, Minde, Good, Bad, &c.”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy. […], 5th edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [Robert Young, Miles Flesher, and Leonard Lichfield and William Turner] for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 3, section 2, member 3, subsection 1, page 515:",
"text": "Every Lover admires his miſtris, though ſhee be very deformed of her ſelfe, [...] her feet ſtinke, ſhee breed lice, a meere changeling, a very monſter, [...]: if he loue her once, he admires her for all this, he takes no notice of any ſuch errors, or imperfections of body or minde.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1709, Earl of Murlgrave [i.e., John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, formerly Earl of Mulgrave], An Essay on Poetry, London: […] H. Hills, […], →OCLC, page 15:",
"text": "Juſt as a Changeling ſeems below the reſt / Of Men, or rather is a two-legg’d Beaſt, / So theſe Gigantick Souls amaz'd we find / As much above the reſt of human kind.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 298:",
"text": "It was easy enough to see that the child was a changeling, for it wasn't like other children at all it screamed and cried, as if a knife stuck in it, and it wheezed and hit about with its arms like a huldre-cat, and was as ugly as sin.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1961, Muriel Saint Clare Byrne, Elizabethan Life in Town and Country, 8th edition, London: Methuen & Co., →OCLC, page 285:",
"text": "His nurse had told him all about changelings, and how the little people would always try to steal a beautiful human child out of its cradle and put in its stead one of their own ailing, puking brats [...]",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"In pre-modern European folklore: an infant of a magical creature that was secretly exchanged for a human infant. 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 demons, devils, or witches."
],
"links": [
[
"European",
"European"
],
[
"folklore",
"folklore"
],
[
"pre-modern",
"premodern"
],
[
"infant",
"infant"
],
[
"magical",
"magical"
],
[
"creature",
"creature"
],
[
"secretly",
"secretly"
],
[
"exchange",
"exchange"
],
[
"human",
"human"
],
[
"British",
"British"
],
[
"Irish",
"Irish"
],
[
"Scandinavian",
"Scandinavian"
],
[
"mythology",
"mythology"
],
[
"fairies",
"fairy"
],
[
"sprite",
"sprite"
],
[
"troll",
"troll"
],
[
"place",
"place"
],
[
"ascribe",
"ascribe"
],
[
"demon",
"demon"
],
[
"devil",
"devil"
],
[
"witch",
"witch"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(European folklore, also figurative) In pre-modern European folklore: an infant of a magical creature that was secretly exchanged for a human infant. 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 demons, devils, or witches."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "auf"
},
{
"word": "oaf"
},
{
"tags": [
"obsolete"
],
"word": "swapling"
}
],
"tags": [
"European",
"also",
"figuratively"
],
"topics": [
"arts",
"folklore",
"history",
"human-sciences",
"literature",
"media",
"publishing",
"sciences"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1717, [John Lewis], A Few English Notes on a Late Sermon Preached before the Sons of the Clergy by Dr. [Thomas] Bisse, Intended to Vindicate the English Reformation from the Charge of Sacrilege, Fraud, &c. […], London: […] James Knapton, […]; and sold by John Morphew, […], →OCLC, page 15:",
"text": "When I firſt read Mr. Walker’s Circular Letter to the Arch-deacons, I fancied he intended to give us an Account of thoſe worthy Men, [...] But after about ten Years going with this Work, and that the Time of its Birth was come, I ſoon found it to be a perfect Changeling. Inſtead of what I expected it to be, I ſaw a huge Heap of the moſt Heterogeneous Characters, [...] a great many of them much more deſerving to have their Names blotted out, than their Memory to be preſerved.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else."
],
"links": [
[
"person",
"person"
],
[
"object",
"object#Noun"
],
[
"regarded",
"regard#Verb"
],
[
"inferior",
"inferior"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension) A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else."
],
"tags": [
"broadly"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English informal terms",
"English terms with rare senses"
],
"glosses": [
"An infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling."
],
"links": [
[
"deliberately",
"deliberately"
],
[
"mistake",
"mistake"
],
[
"swapling",
"swapling"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension, informal, rare) An infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling."
],
"tags": [
"broadly",
"informal",
"rare"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"en:Fantasy",
"en:Science fiction"
],
"glosses": [
"An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter."
],
"links": [
[
"fantasy",
"fantasy"
],
[
"science fiction",
"science fiction"
],
[
"organism",
"organism"
],
[
"change",
"change"
],
[
"shape",
"shape"
],
[
"mimic",
"mimic"
],
[
"shape-shifter",
"shape-shifter"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(fantasy, science fiction) An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "shape-shifter"
}
],
"topics": [
"fantasy",
"literature",
"media",
"publishing",
"science-fiction"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with archaic senses",
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:",
"text": "To face the garment of rebellion / With ſome fine colour that may pleaſe the eye / Of fickle changlings and poore diſcontents, / Which gape and rub the elbow at the newes / Of hurly-burly innouation, [...]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1760, [William] Kenrick, Falstaff’s Wedding: A Comedy. […], London: […] J. Wilkie, …, →OCLC, act II, scene vi, page 28:",
"text": "Fal[staff]. [...] If you will lodge with me in Eaſtcheap, you ſhall ſee the thouſand pound fairly ſpent in ſack: you ſhall ſhare with me to the utmoſt farthing. But for dry reſtitution, I have not been accustom'd to it of many years. You would not have me a changeling at this time of day, I hope, Maſter Shallow. / Shal[low]. Changeling! no, Sir John, thou art no changeling; but, depend on it, I will not put up with this wrong. [...] I will have my money; depend on't I will have my money.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XVI, page 26:",
"text": "What words are these have fall’n from me?\nCan calm despair and wild unrest\nBe tenants of a single breast,\nOr sorrow such a changeling be?",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer."
],
"links": [
[
"apt",
"apt"
],
[
"loyalty",
"loyalty"
],
[
"think",
"think"
],
[
"waverer",
"waverer"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(archaic, also figurative) A person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "turncoat"
}
],
"tags": [
"also",
"archaic",
"figuratively"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses",
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1622, John Rawlins, The Famovs and Wonderfvll Recoverie of a Ship of Bristoll, Called the Exchange, from the Turkish Pirates of Argier. […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Nathaniel Butter, […], →OCLC:",
"text": "They alſo obſerue Lunaticks and changelings, and the Coniurer writeth downe their ſayings in a booke, groueling on the ground, as if he whiſperd to the Deuill to tell him the truth, and ſo expoundeth the letter, as it were by inſpiration.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1669 June (first performance), John Dryden, Tyrannick Love, or, The Royal Martyr. […], London: […] H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1670, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i, page 34:",
"text": "We wander in the Fields of Air below: / Changlings and Fooles of Heav'n: and thence ſhut out, / Wildly we roam in diſcontent about: [...]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1740, Erasmus, “A Panegyrick upon Folly, Declamation-wise”, in W. Kennet [i.e., White Kennett], transl., The Praise of Folly. Made English from the Latin of Erasmus. […], 6th edition, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 59:",
"text": "[C]an there be any one Sort of Men that enjoy themſelves better than thoſe which we call Idiots, Changelings, Fools, and Naturals? It may perhaps ſound harſh, but upon due Conſideration it will be found abundantly true, that theſe Perſons in all Circumſtances fare beſt, and live moſt comfortably: [...]",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"An idiot, a simpleton."
],
"links": [
[
"idiot",
"idiot"
],
[
"simpleton",
"simpleton"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) An idiot, a simpleton."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "idiot"
}
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"audio": "En-us-changeling.oga",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a6/En-us-changeling.oga/En-us-changeling.oga.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/En-us-changeling.oga"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "خائن"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "調換兒"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "diàohuànr",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "调换儿"
},
{
"code": "da",
"lang": "Danish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "skifting"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "wisselbalg"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "wisselkind"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "vaihdokas"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "changelin"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "changeling"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "Dickkopf"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "Kielkropf"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"neuter"
],
"word": "Wechselbalg"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Wechselkind"
},
{
"code": "is",
"lang": "Icelandic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "umskiptingur"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "carrachán linbh"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "fágálach"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "iarmhar"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "iarlais"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "malartán"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "páiste a tugadh as"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "síofra"
},
{
"code": "ga",
"lang": "Irish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "síogaí linbh"
},
{
"alt": "おにご",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "onigo",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "鬼子"
},
{
"alt": "とりかえこ",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "torikaeko",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "取り替え子"
},
{
"code": "la",
"lang": "Latin",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "cambiō"
},
{
"code": "gv",
"lang": "Manx",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "faagailagh"
},
{
"code": "gv",
"lang": "Manx",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "lhiannoo shee"
},
{
"code": "nv",
"lang": "Navajo",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "nádleehé"
},
{
"code": "fa",
"lang": "Persian",
"roman": "'avazi",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "عوضی"
},
{
"code": "fa",
"lang": "Persian",
"roman": "toxm-e jen",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "تخمِ جن"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "odmieniec"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "podményš",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "подме́ныш"
},
{
"code": "sco",
"lang": "Scots",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "ta'en-awa'"
},
{
"code": "sco",
"lang": "Scots",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "witch-wean"
},
{
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "sìthbheire"
},
{
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "tàchaire"
},
{
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "tàcharan"
},
{
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "tàcharan-sìthe"
},
{
"code": "sh",
"lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"word": "promenant"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "niño cambiado"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "bortbyting"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "plentyn cael"
}
],
"word": "changeling"
}
{
"categories": [
"English adjectives",
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms suffixed with -ling",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"Terms with Arabic translations",
"Terms with Danish translations",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Icelandic translations",
"Terms with Irish translations",
"Terms with Japanese translations",
"Terms with Latin translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Manx translations",
"Terms with Navajo translations",
"Terms with Persian translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Scots translations",
"Terms with Scottish Gaelic translations",
"Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Swedish translations",
"Terms with Welsh translations",
"en:Babies",
"en:Characters from folklore",
"en:Fictional abilities",
"en:Mythological creatures",
"en:People",
"en:Shapeshifters",
"en:Stock characters"
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "suffix"
},
"expansion": "suffix",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "change",
"3": "ling",
"pos2": "suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’"
},
"expansion": "change + -ling (suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’)",
"name": "suffix"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "adjective"
},
"expansion": "adjective",
"name": "glossary"
}
],
"etymology_text": "The noun is derived from change + -ling (suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’). Sense 6 (“idiot, simpleton”) is from the idea that foolish children had been left by magical creatures (sense 1).\nThe adjective is derived from the noun.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "more changeling",
"tags": [
"comparative"
]
},
{
"form": "most changeling",
"tags": [
"superlative"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "changeling (comparative more changeling, superlative most changeling)",
"name": "en-adj"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"change‧ling"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "adj",
"related": [
{
"word": "foundling"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with archaic senses",
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with rare senses"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1719, John Donne, “Satyre I”, in Poems on Several Occasions. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, and sold by William Taylor […], →OCLC, page 107:",
"text": "Away thou changeling motley humouriſt, / Leave me, and in this ſtanding wooden cheſt, / Conſorted with theſe few books, let me lye / In priſon, and here be coffin'd, when I dye.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Changeable, fickle, inconstant, wavering."
],
"links": [
[
"Changeable",
"changeable"
],
[
"fickle",
"fickle"
],
[
"inconstant",
"inconstant"
],
[
"wavering",
"wavering#Adjective"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(archaic, rare) Changeable, fickle, inconstant, wavering."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "changeable"
}
],
"tags": [
"archaic",
"rare"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"audio": "En-us-changeling.oga",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a6/En-us-changeling.oga/En-us-changeling.oga.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/En-us-changeling.oga"
}
],
"word": "changeling"
}
Download raw JSONL data for changeling meaning in All languages combined (21.9kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (8a39820 and 4401a4c). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.