changeling

FREQ #31956

n. 被偷换后留下的孩童, 矮小丑陋的小孩, 低能儿

发音

UK /ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/
US /ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/

词形变化

changelings 复数 changelings more changeling 比较级 most changeling 最高级

释义与例句

n.
  1. 1.

    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.

    调换儿

    比喻 艺术 媒体
  2. 2.

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

    引申义
  3. 3.

    An infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling.

    非正式 罕用 引申义
  4. 4.

    An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter.

    媒体
  5. 5.

    A person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer.

    古体 比喻
  6. 6.

    An idiot, a simpleton.

    废旧
adj.
  1. 1.

    Changeable, fickle, inconstant, wavering.

    古体 罕用

词汇关系

名词

同义词 6

idiot moron imbecile retard cretin half-wit

上位词 10

kid child simple minor fry youngster simpleton nipper shaver tyke

词源

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). The adjective is derived from the noun.

来源：wiktionary