changeling

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: channeling, chargeling, changing, cringeling, changelings, channelling, canceling, cageling, hanseling, chandelling, changning

Antonyms: channeling, chargeling, changing, cringeling, changelings, channelling, canceling, cageling, hanseling, chandelling, changning

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

{{lb|en|European folklore|also|figurative}} In [[premodern|pre-modern]] European folklore: an [[infant]] of a [[magical]] [[creature]] that was [[secretly]] [[exchange]]d for a [[human]] infant. In [[British]], [[Irish]] and [[Scandinavian]] [[mythology]] the exchanged infants were thought to be those of [[fairy|fairies]], [[sprite]]s or [[troll]]s; in other [[place]]s, they were [[ascribe]]d to [[demon]]s, [[devil]]s, or [[witch]]es.
{{lb|en|by extension}} A [[person]] or [[object#Noun|object]] (especially when [[regard#Verb|regarded]] as [[inferior]]) secretly exchanged for something else.
{{lb|en|by extension|informal|rare}} An infant secretly exchanged with another infant [[deliberately]] or by [[mistake]]; a [[swapling]].
{{lb|en|fantasy|science fiction}} An [[organism]] which can [[change]] [[shape]] to [[mimic]] others; a [[shape-shifter]].
{{lb|en|archaic|also|figurative}} A person [[apt]] to change their [[loyalty]] or [[think]]ing; a [[waverer]].
{{lb|en|obsolete}} An [[idiot]], a [[simpleton]].

{{lb|en|archaic|rare}} [[changeable|Changeable]], [[fickle]], [[inconstant]], [[wavering#Adjective|wavering]].

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.