English Dictionary

changeling

/ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/

noun

(European folklore, also figuratively) 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.

The changeling was believed to be a fairy child left in place of a human baby.

意味（1）

(European folklore, also figuratively) 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.

[S]he, as her attendant, hath / A louely boy ſtollen, from an Indian king: / She neuer had ſo ſweete a changeling.

[S]he, as her attendant, hath / A louely boy ſtollen, from an Indian king: / She neuer had ſo ſweete a changeling. Used here to refer to the human infant taken by the magical creature, rather than the infant left behind.]

意味（2）

(by extension) A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else.

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.

意味（3）

(by extension, informal, rare) An infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling.

意味（4）

(fantasy, science fiction) An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter.

意味（5）

(archaic, also figuratively) A person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer.

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, …

意味（6）

(obsolete) An idiot, a simpleton.

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.