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Werewolves
WerewolvesWerewolves are man-wolves—wer is Old English for "man." Legends from around the world tell of men who could turn into wolves and then back into human form again. In their animal form, werewolves were bloodthirsty creatures that devoured people, both living and dead. Legends of people changing into animals occur in all parts of the world. In countries where wolves are unknown, such legends have involved tigers, leopards, hyenas, bears, panthers, snakes, boars, and other animals. Perhaps these stories reflect a universal unease about the more bestial aspects of human nature and behavior. Some scholars have suggested that these transformation legends are faint echoes of ancient ceremonies in which people wore animal skins and masks. European werewolf tales date from ancient times. Among other stories, Ovid* wrote that a Greek king named Lycaon was turned into a wolf as punishment for serving human flesh to the gods. From the Greek words lukos (wolf) and anthropos (man) comes lycanthropy, which refers to the werewolf's transformation. Modern psychologists also use the term to describe a mental illness in which the patient believes he or she is a wolf or some other animal. Belief in werewolves was widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages. Any infant born with body hair, a strange birthmark, or a caul (a membrane covering the head) was thought to be a potential werewolf. It was believed that a person could become a werewolf voluntarily, generally by embracing black magic or worshiping the devil. The bite of a werewolf could also turn someone into a werewolf. One of the most frightening aspects of werewolf legends was the idea that the cannibalistic beast could pass his days as a mild and righteous citizen, unsuspected of any evil. In some traditions, the werewolf took on animal form at will, perhaps every night. Other traditions, however, said that the transformation occurred only on nights of the full moon. Folktales offered various tips about how to injure or kill a werewolf. Some suggested that any weapon that could hurt an ordinary wolf could harm a werewolf as well and that when the beast returned to its human form, its injuries would reveal its identity as a werewolf. Other legends said that only special weapons made of silver or possessing religious powers or blessings could harm a werewolf. See also Animals in Mythology; Monsters; Vampires. |
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Cite this article
"Werewolves." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Werewolves." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900510.html "Werewolves." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900510.html |
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Werewolves
Werewolves, putative Nazi guerrilla organization which was to man the National Redoubt and carry out sabotage and resistance in occupied Germany. It was given a commander, Lt-General Wenck, but the Redoubt was never formed and the Werewolves amounted to nothing more than a handful of fanatical young Nazis whose best-known action was to murder the mayor of Aachen in March 1945 for collaboration with the Allies. Soviet disinformation exaggerated their importance, to distract the western Allies.
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I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Werewolves." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Werewolves." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-Werewolves.html I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Werewolves." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-Werewolves.html |
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werewolf
werewolf in myth or fiction, a person who changes for periods of time into a wolf, typically when there is a full moon. Recorded from late Old English, in form werewulf; the first element has usually been identified with Old English wer ‘man’. In modern use the word has been revived through folklore studies.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "werewolf." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "werewolf." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-werewolf.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "werewolf." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-werewolf.html |
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werewolf
werewolf, werwolf person transformed or capable of transforming himself into a wolf. Late OE. werewulf (once) = LG. werwulf, (M)Du. weerwolf, MHG. werwolf (G. we(h)rwolf). The first el. is doubtful, but it has been identified with OE. wer ( = L. vir) man.
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T. F. HOAD. "werewolf." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "werewolf." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-werewolf.html T. F. HOAD. "werewolf." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-werewolf.html |
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werewolf
werewolf In folklore, a person who metamorphoses into a wolf at night but reverts to human form by day. Some werewolves can change form at will; in others the change occurs involuntarily, under the influence of a full moon.
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"werewolf." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "werewolf." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-werewolf.html "werewolf." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-werewolf.html |
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werewolf
were·wolf / ˈwe(ə)rˌwoŏlf/ • n. (pl. -wolves ) (in myth or fiction) a person who changes for periods of time into a wolf, typically when there is a full moon. |
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"werewolf." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "werewolf." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-werewolf.html "werewolf." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-werewolf.html |
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werewolf
werewolf see lycanthropy . |
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"werewolf." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "werewolf." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-werewolf.html "werewolf." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-werewolf.html |
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werewolf
werewolf
•Ralph
•elf, herself, himself, itself, myself, oneself, ourself, self, shelf, themself, thyself, yourself
•mantelshelf • bookshelf • sylph
•golf, Rolf, Wolf
•Randolph • Rudolph
•Wolfe, Woolf
•aardwolf • werewolf • Beowulf
•engulf, gulf
•Ranulf
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"werewolf." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "werewolf." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-werewolf.html "werewolf." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-werewolf.html |
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werewolves
werewolves
•haves
•calves, scarves
•headscarves • mooncalves • Graves
•beeves, eaves, Greaves, Jeeves, leaves, Reeves, thieves
•tea leaves • fig leaves • flyleaves
•Hargreaves • lives
•Ives, knives, wives
•jackknives • penknives • paperknives
•spaewives • alewives • midwives
•fishwives • housewives • goodwives
•corves, dwarves, wharves
•Groves, loaves
•hooves • turves
•elves, ourselves, selves, shelves, theirselves, themselves, yourselves
•mantelshelves • bookshelves
•wolves • aardwolves • werewolves
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Cite this article
"werewolves." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "werewolves." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-werewolves.html "werewolves." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-werewolves.html |
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