Word
faerie
UK/fˈeəɹi/
Definition
n. a magical creature from old stories, often with wings and a tiny size. It is an older, more poetic way to say 'fairy'.
n. a supernatural being from folklore, typically depicted as small, winged, and possessing magical powers. Often used in literary contexts to evoke a sense of ancient or medieval enchantment.
Examples
“The old stories are full of faerie magic.”
“The author used the term faerie to give the forest creatures a more mysterious and ancient feel.”
“In medieval literature, the faerie realm is often portrayed as a place of both great beauty and subtle danger, where the laws of nature are subject to the whims of the court.”
Examples
simple
“The old stories are full of faerie magic.”
contextual
“The author used the term faerie to give the forest creatures a more mysterious and ancient feel.”
complex
“In medieval literature, the faerie realm is often portrayed as a place of both great beauty and subtle danger, where the laws of nature are subject to the whims of the court.”
Real-World Examples
“High-concept Shakespeare risks bits not fitting, a jeopardy increased in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by a plot divided between courtiers, artisans and faeries.” “It feels like a dark enchantment, a faerie bargain.” “If it didn't for you, you're either made of much sterner stuff than I or the faeries must already have you clutched safe to their collective silvery bosom, far, far away from here.” Etymology
A deliberately archaic spelling of fairy (attested since the 1300s in spellings like fairye, fayre), based on Old French faerie, used in 1590 by Edmund Spenser in The Faerie Queene.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.