Druid

Druid
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 Britons. [1913 Webster]

Note: The Druids superintended the affairs of religion and morality, and exercised judicial functions. They practiced divination and magic, and sacrificed human victims as a part of their worship. They consisted of three classes; the bards, the vates or prophets, and the Druids proper, or priests. Their most sacred rites were performed in the depths of oak forests or of caves. [1913 Webster]

2. A member of a social and benevolent order, founded in London in 1781, and professedly based on the traditions of the ancient Druids. Lodges or groves of the society are established in other countries. [1913 Webster]

{Druid stones}, a name given, in the south of England, to weatherworn, rough pillars of gray sandstone scattered over the chalk downs, but in other countries generally in the form of circles, or in detached pillars. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”