Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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adj
Changeable, fickle, inconstant, wavering.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: changeable, changeful, changeling, dynamic, everchanging, fickle, fluid, inconstant, labile, mobile, moody, shiftable, up-and-down, unstable, variable, volatile, wavering
Antonyms: none provided
noun
In pre-modern European folklore: an infant of a magical creature that was secretly exchanged for a human infant. In British, Irish and Scandinavian mythology the exchanged infants were thought to be those of fairies, sprites or trolls; in other places, they were ascribed to demons, devils, or witches.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: European, also, figuratively
Topics: arts, folklore, history, human-sciences, literature, media, publishing, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: oaf, swapling
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, informal, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: fantasy, literature, media, publishing, science-fiction
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: changeling, shape-shifter, shapeshifter, shifter
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: also, archaic, figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: turncoat, withersake, apostate, balimbing, butterfly, changeling, defector, runagate, traitor, transfuge, turncloak, turntippet
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An idiot, a simpleton.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: addle-brain, addlehead, addle pate, airhead, baboon, beanbrain, beetlebrain, beetlehead, berk, bimbo, birdbrain, blockhead, blubberbrain, bonehead, Boeotian, boob, bozo, brainlet, brickhead, bubblehead, bubble brain, bufflehead, buffoon, Charlie, chowderhead, chucklehead, chump, cittern-head, clod, clodpate, clot, clown, crackhead, cretin, cuckoo, deadhead, dimbo, dim bulb, dimbus, dimwit, dingbat, ding dong, dingleberry, dingwad, dip, dipstick, doldrum, dolt, donut, doodle, doof, doofoid, doofus, dope, dork, drivel, drongo, drool bucket, dullard, dumb bunny, dumbbell, dumb cluck, dumbhead, dumble, dumbling, dumbnut, dumbo, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, dunderpate, eejit, fathead, featherbrain, fenderhead, fleabrain, fool, fopdoodle, galoot, gimboid, gomer, gonk, goober, goof, goofball, goofy, goon, goose, goosecap, gorbuson, gudgeon, halfwit, ha'porth, hammerhead, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, inbred, jackaninny, jellybrain, jerk, juggins, jughead, knothead, knucklehead, lackwit, lamebrain, log, loggerhead, lummox, lunk, lunkhead, maroon, meatball, meathead, mental midget, mome, momo, mongoloid, mongtard, monkey, moron, mouth breather, muggins, mushhead, muttonhead, mutt, nimrod, nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit, nitwit, noddy, noodlehead, numbskull, oaf, peabrain, peagoose, pillock, pigwidgeon, pinhead, plank, plonker, prat, put, putz, retard, sap, saphead, schmo, silly, simp, simpleton, smooth brain, snapperhead, sot, space cadet, spanner, stupe, stupid, stupid-head, tard, thickhead, thickskull, thicko, tomfool, tonto, toolbox, tosspot, turkey, twit, wally, wantwit, wazzer, wazzock, witless wonder, yo-yo, zany, Vulgar:, ass, assclown, asshat, asshead, asstard, asswipe, buttbreath, dildo, dipshit, donkey dick, Alternative spelling of dumbass., dumbfuck, dumbfucker, dumbshit, farthead, fuck-knuckle, fucktard, fuckwit, jackass, peckerhead, shitbrain, shithead, shitneck, shitwit, twat
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a child secretly exchanged for another in infancy
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: child, kid, youngster, minor, shaver, nipper, small fry, tiddler, tike, tyke, fry, nestling
noun
a person of subnormal intelligence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: idiot, imbecile, cretin, moron, half-wit, retard
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: simpleton, simple
Narrower terms: mongoloid
History
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.
Across languages
42 source translations are retained for this English entry.
