Druid

Druid
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" (perhaps in allusion to divination from mistletoe). Anglo-Saxon, too, used identical words to mean "tree" and "truth" (treow).
The English form comes via Latin, not immediately from Celtic. The Old Irish form was drui (dat. and acc. druid; pl. druad); Mod.Ir. and Gael. draoi, gen. druadh "magician, sorcerer." Not to be confused with United Ancient Order of Druids, secret benefit society founded in London 1781.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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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 — {{/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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