druid

druid
\ \ [16] Druid is, not surprisingly, of Celtic origin, although English probably acquired it via French druide or the Latin plural druides. The source of these forms was Gaulish druides, which came ultimately from Old Celtic *derwíjes. There are two opposing theories on the derivation of this: one is that it comes from an Old Celtic adjective derwos ‘true’ (source of Welsh derw ‘true’), in which case its etymological meaning would be ‘someone who says the truth’ (a parallel formation to English soothsayer); the other is that it was formed from the Old Celtic base *dru- ‘tree’ (source of Welsh derwen and Irish daur ‘oak-tree’ and related to Greek drus ‘oak’ and English tree) in reference to the central role played by oak-trees in druidic ceremonies.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Druid — Dru id, n. [L. Druides; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. & Gael. draoi, druidh, magician, Druid, W. derwydd Druid.] 1. One of an order of priests which in ancient times existed among certain branches of the Celtic race, especially among the Gauls and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • druid — DRUÍD, druizi, s.m. Preot al vechilor celţi din Galia şi din insulele britanice. – Din fr. druide, lat. druidae. Trimis de ana zecheru, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  druíd s. m., pl. druízi Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar ortografic… …   Dicționar Român

  • Druid — 1560s, from Fr. druide, from L. druidae (pl.), from Gaulish Druides, from O.Celt. *derwijes, probably representing O.Celt. derwos true and *dru tree (especially oak) + *wid to know (Cf. vision). Hence, lit., perhaps, they who know the oak… …   Etymology dictionary

  • druid — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mos I, Mc. druididzie; lm M. druididzi || owie {{/stl 8}}{{stl 7}} kapłan lub mędrzec w celtyckiej Galii, Brytanii i Irlandii <łac. z celt.> {{/stl 7}} …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • Druid — ► NOUN ▪ a priest, magician, or soothsayer in the ancient Celtic religion. DERIVATIVES Druidic adjective Druidical adjective Druidism noun. ORIGIN Gaulish (the language of the ancient Gauls); related to Irish draoidh magician, sorcerer …   English terms dictionary

  • druid — [dro͞o′id] n. [Fr druide < L druides, pl. < Celt, as in OIr drūi < IE * dru wid , lit., oak wise (< base * deru , oak, TREE + * wid , know, WISE1)] [often D ] a member of a literate and influential class in Celtic society that… …   English World dictionary

  • Druid — For other uses, see Druid (disambiguation). Two druids , 19th century engraving based on a 1719 illustration by Bernard de Montfaucon.[1] …   Wikipedia

  • Druid — druidic, druidical, adj. /drooh id/, n. (often l.c.) a member of a pre Christian religious order among the ancient Celts of Gaul, Britain, and Ireland. [1555 65; < L druidae (pl.) < Gaulish; r. druide < F; cf. OIr druí (nom.), druid (dat., acc.)… …   Universalium

  • Druid — [[t]dru͟ːɪd[/t]] Druids also druid N COUNT A Druid is a priest of the Celtic religion …   English dictionary

  • Druid — UK [ˈdruːɪd] / US [ˈdruɪd] noun [countable] Word forms Druid : singular Druid plural Druids 1) a priest in the ancient Celtic religion 2) a member of a modern religious group with similar beliefs to the ancient Druids …   English dictionary

  • druid — noun Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Latin druides, druidae, plural, from Gaulish druides; akin to Old Irish druí druid, and perhaps to Old English trēow tree Date: 1563 one of an ancient Celtic priesthood appearing in Irish and Welsh sagas… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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