: a person transformed into a wolf or capable of assuming a wolf's form
Did you know?
Though some doubts about the word's etymology still remain, werewolf probably comes from a prehistoric West Germanic compound whose constituent parts gave Old English wer ("man") and wulf ("wolf"). The word is related to Middle Dutch weerwulf and Old High German werwolf. Another rather obscure word for werewolf is lycanthrope, which traces back through Latin to a Greek combination of lyk- (from lykos, meaning "wolf") and anthrōpos (meaning "human being"). English also sometimes makes use of the French-derived word loup-garou, from Old French leu ("wolf") and garoul or garulf (a word of Germanic origin meaning "werewolf").
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebLautner portrayed werewolf Jacob Black in all five Twilight Saga movies, completing the series' primary love triangle opposite Stewart, 32, as Bella Swan and Pattinson, 36, as Edward Cullen. Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 Patrick played the child werewolf Eddie Munster on the original '60s TV show. Clark Collis, EW.com, 29 June 2022 Nearly 40 years later, a werewolf going full Julius Erving on a basketball court is still one of the lasting images anyone has of this film. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 29 July 2022 Only, the famed traitor is actually a werewolf in this telling. Andy Meek, BGR, 4 July 2022 Preacher gets the coordinates to Vince's cabinet and stakes it out, crouching on high ground and looking a little like a rugged werewolf hunter. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 20 July 2022 The gang must figure out how to change Shaggy back into a human after CountDracula turns him into a werewolf. Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 19 July 2022 This year, The Home Depot decided to give Skelly a few friends, those being a 15-foot towering phantom, 12-foot hovering witch (which is already sold out!), 9.5-foot werewolf, and 12-foot inferno pumpkin skeleton. Hannah Jones, Country Living, 15 July 2022 In the Teen Wolf pilot, Derek was the mysterious werewolf who helped guide Scott (Tyler Posey) and spent most of his time lurking in the background in leather jackets. Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 13 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English werwulf (akin to Old High German werwolf werewolf), from wer man + wulf wolf — more at virile, wolf
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of werewolf was before the 12th century