eldritch
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From the earlier form elritch, of uncertain origin. The second element, -ritch, is generally taken to be (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English rīċe (“realm, kingdom”) (see riche). Some think the first element, el-, derives from an Old English root meaning "foreign, strange, other" (related to Old English ellende and modern English else); others think it derives from elf.[1][2] Reintroduced into popular literature by the writings of H. P. Lovecraft.
Pronunciation
Adjective
eldritch (comparative more eldritch, superlative most eldritch)
- Unearthly, supernatural, eerie.
- 1790, Robert Burns, Tam o' Shanter:
- So Maggie runs, the witches follow,
Wi' mony an eldritch skriech and hollo.
- 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, chapter VII, in The Scarlet Letter:
- Pearl, in utter scorn of her mother's attempt to quiet her, gave an eldritch scream, and then became silent.
References
- ^ “eldritch”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
- ^ “eldritch”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.