Feeries

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of mythical being associated with enchantment and fascination, often depicted as small, delicate creatures with magical powers
2. Referring to whimsical spirits or fairies prevalent in folklore, typically enchanting the natural world
3. Encompassing an array of fantastical entities, these beings often serve as symbols of wonder in literature and storytelling

Etymology: Before it named a race of creatures, the root of "feeries" named a state of being: enchantment. It descends from Old French "faerie", meaning enchantment or the realm of enchantment, which is built on "fae" and ultimately traces to Latin "fata", the Fates who were believed to determine a person's destiny. The fairies were thus first defined by the magic that surrounded them rather than by their bodies. Over time the word shifted from the enchanted realm to the beings who lived there, and speakers began using it for the creatures themselves. "Feeries" is the plural of "feery", an older variant of "fairy", so it refers to multiple such beings, often in the sense the definition describes: wondrous, otherworldly figures in stories.