See also: WEIRD and weïrd

English [ edit ]

Alternative forms [ edit ]

weïrd wierd obsolete )

) weyard weyward obsolete, Shakespeare)

Etymology [ edit ]

From Middle English werde, wierde, wirde, wyrede, wurde, from Old English wyrd, wurd (“that which happens, fate, chance, fortune, destiny, Fate, the Fates, Providence, event, phenomenon, transaction, fact, deed”), from Proto-Germanic *wurdiz (“fate, destiny”), from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to turn, wind”). Cognate with Icelandic urður (“fate”). Related to Old English weorþan (“to become”). Doublet of wyrd. More at worth.

Weird was extinct by the 16th century in English. It survived in Scots, whence Shakespeare borrowed it in naming the Weird Sisters, reintroducing it to English. The senses "abnormal", "strange" etc. arose via reinterpretation of Weird Sisters and date from after this reintroduction.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

( UK ) IPA (key) : /ˈwɪəd/ , /ˈwiːəd/

IPA : , ( US ) IPA (key) : /ˈwiɚd/ , /ˈwɪɚd/

IPA : , Audio (US)

Audio (AU)

Rhymes: -ɪə(r)d

Adjective [ edit ]

weird (comparative weirder, superlative weirdest)

Synonyms [ edit ]

Derived terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

weird (plural weirds)

( archaic ) Fate; destiny; luck. 1912, Medea , Heinemenn, translation of original by , Heinemenn, translation of original by Euripides , published 1946, page 361: In the weird of death shall the hapless be whelmed, and from Doom’s dark prison / Shall she steal forth never again. A prediction. ( obsolete , Scotland ) A spell or charm. (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Walter Scott to this entry?) That which comes to pass; a fact. ( archaic , in the in the plural ) The Fates (personified).

Synonyms [ edit ]

( fate; destiny ) : kismet lot orlay wyrd

( luck ) : fortune luck Thesaurus:luck

Thesaurus:luck ( prediction ) : foretale foretelling prognostication Thesaurus:prediction

Thesaurus:prediction ( spell or charm ) : enchantment incantation cantrip

( fact ) :

( The Fates ) : The Norns

Derived terms [ edit ]

Verb [ edit ]

weird (third-person singular simple present weirds, present participle weirding, simple past and past participle weirded)

( transitive ) To destine; doom; change by witchcraft or sorcery. ( transitive ) To warn solemnly; adjure.

Anagrams [ edit ]

Scots [ edit ]

Alternative forms [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

From Old English wyrd (“fate, destiny”), from Proto-Germanic *wurdiz.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

weird (plural weirds)

fate, fortune, destiny, one's own particular fate or appointed lot event destined to happen, a god's decree, omen, prophecy, prediction wizard, warlock, one having deep or supernatural skill or knowledge

Derived terms [ edit ]

Adjective [ edit ]

weird (comparative mair weird, superlative maist weird)

Verb [ edit ]

weird (third-person singular present weirds, present participle weirdin, past weirdit, past participle weirdit)