changeling

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a person of subnormal intelligence
  2. noun a child secretly exchanged for another in infancy

Etymology

The noun is derived from change + -ling (suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’). Sense 6 (“idiot, simpleton”) is from the idea that foolish children had been left by magical creatures (sense 1). The adjective is derived from the noun.

In classic literature

Synonyms

idiot, imbecile, cretin, moron, half-wit, retard

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