werewolf

/'w :wulf/ Cách viết khác : (werewolf) /'w :wulf/
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werewolf

A full moon shines over a forest clearing as a werewolf howls.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A mythical monster capable of transforming between human and wolf forms: A "werewolf" is a legendary creature from folklore that is human but can change, often during a full moon, into a wolf or a wolf-like beast. This transformation is typically involuntary and associated with a curse or affliction.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The villagers feared the werewolf that was said to stalk the forest at night.
    • In the movie, the protagonist is bitten and becomes a werewolf.
    • Legends of the werewolf exist in many cultures across Europe.
Advanced Usage
  • "To be a werewolf": To be afflicted with lycanthropy, the condition of being a werewolf.
    • He discovered he was a werewolf after the first full moon following the attack.
  • "Werewolf legend/mythology": Refers to the body of stories and beliefs surrounding these creatures.
    • The werewolf mythology of medieval France is particularly rich.
Variants and Related Words
  • Lycanthrope (n): A more formal or clinical term for a werewolf; a person affected with lycanthropy (the delusion of being a wolf).
  • Lycanthropy (n): The supernatural transformation of a person into a wolf, or the mental illness where one believes this to be true.
  • Were- (prefix): Used in other compound words for shape-shifters (e.g., , ), though these are much less common than "werewolf."
Synonyms
  • Wolf-man: An informal synonym.
  • Lycanthrope: A technical synonym.
Related Phrases
  • "Silver bullet": An idiom originating from werewolf lore, meaning a definitive solution to a problem. In myths, a werewolf can only be killed by a silver bullet.
    • There is no silver bullet for solving climate change; it requires a complex set of solutions.
Notes on Meaning
  • The core meaning of "werewolf" is specifically a human-wolf shapeshifter. It is not a general term for a large wolf or a wild person, though it can be used metaphorically to describe someone with a fierce or savage nature.
    • Metaphorical use: After the betrayal, he was like a werewolf, consumed by rage.
werewolf

A full moon shines over a forest clearing as a werewolf howls.

Noun
  1. a monster able to change appearance from human to wolf and back again

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