Orcs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A fictional humanoid creature characterized by a brutish appearance and often depicted as malevolent in fantasy literature
2. A mythical being commonly portrayed as aggressive and warlike, frequently found in various role-playing games and narratives
3. A monstrous figure in fantasy settings, often resembling a large, green-skinned humanoid with a propensity for violence and brutality

Etymology: Before it meant a green-skinned villain, this word meant a demon. Old English used "orc" for a demon or monster, and it likely comes from Latin "Orcus", the name of the Roman god of the underworld. The plural "orcs" simply follows the same pattern. J. R. R. Tolkien revived the word for his fantasy writing, partly because he understood the Old English term to mean "demon". His brutish, warlike creatures fixed the modern image, and fantasy fiction took it from there. The word gained a new sense in 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As slang, it came to refer to Russian soldiers, drawing on its associations with savagery.

Synonyms: goblins, trolls

Antonyms: elves, fairies