Wyrd
/wɪrd/noun
An Old English term representing fate or destiny, often personified as a goddess or force.
Did you know?In Anglo-Saxon culture, Wyrd was not just fate; it was a powerful force that shaped lives, often linked to the concept of predestination and the supernatural.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wurdiz
“the concept of fate or destiny, often linked to the unfolding of events.”
Old English
OE
wyrd
“the personification of fate or destiny, viewed as a powerful, inevitable force.”
Middle English
ME
werd
“continuation of the Old English concept, still signifying fate but beginning to lose its mythological connotations.”
Modern English
ModE
weird
“shifted in meaning to signify something strange or uncanny, departing from its original fate-related sense.”