noun
werewolf
WAIR-woolf/ˈwerwʊlf/
A person believed to transform into a wolf.
The story shows a werewolf changing from a person into a wolf.
Etymology
Literally a “man-wolf,” the compound joins the creature's human and animal identities. In the old belief, the person could take a wolf's shape while retaining human intelligence.
In context
it's got this great werewolf character in it
More examples
- The villagers feared a werewolf in the forest.
- He dressed as a werewolf for the party.
- The film follows a person cursed to become a werewolf.
Forms
werewolf · werewolves
Similar words
- lycanthrope
- A more formal word for a werewolf.