Wyrgan

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A term referring to a supernatural being or spirit from ancient English folklore ; a mysterious or ominous entity from myth or legend ; an archaic name for a wraith-like creature
2. An old-fashioned word for a spectral presence in traditional tales ; a folkloric spirit with unsettling connotations ; a legendary ghostly figure from English myth
3. Describing an eerie entity reputed to haunt stories of the past ; denoting a sinister spirit from medieval or early narrative traditions ; an ancient term for a mythological apparition

Etymology: Old English "wyrgan" was a verb meaning "to curse," as in calling down a doom or damnation on someone. It grew from the noun "wyrg," an accursed or outlawed person. That noun belongs to a family of words that also meant "wolf." Old Norse "vargr" meant both wolf and outlaw, reflecting the idea that a man cast out of his community could be hunted like a wolf.