Meaning & use
wyrd
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Meanings
noununcountablearchaic
In Old English belief, the force that decides what happens in a person's life, often seen as fate beyond human power.
Grammar: Uncountable and historical: wyrd shapes events; it takes no article in older texts.
Patterns
- the power of wyrd
- bow to wyrd
In Beowulf, the hero accepts that wyrd will decide who wins the fight.
Anglo-Saxon poets often reminded listeners that wyrd could not be avoided.
The scholar explained that wyrd is not exactly the same as luck.
noununcountableliterary
A modern name used in fantasy writing and neo-pagan practice for fate as a web or pattern of connected events.
Grammar: Used in fantasy and modern spirituality, often capitalized or italicized.
Patterns
- the web of wyrd
The novel describes the web of wyrd that links the characters.
Some modern pagans speak of their wyrd as a path they weave themselves.
The game's story draws on the idea of wyrd to explain its prophecies.
Common combinations
- web of wyrd
- The characters are caught in a web of wyrd.
- the power of wyrd
- The poem stresses the power of wyrd over kings.
- wyrd and fate
- Scholars compare wyrd and fate in Old English verse.
- accept wyrd
- The warrior accepted wyrd and went to battle.
- Old English wyrd
- Old English wyrd is the source of the modern word weird.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fate
- Fate is the ordinary modern word, while wyrd carries the older, northern idea of a power that is part of the world's pattern.
- destiny
- Destiny often suggests a purpose or a grand future, while wyrd is more impersonal.
- doom
- In older English doom meant a decreed outcome, close to wyrd, but now mostly means ruin.
- providence
- Providence implies a caring divine guidance, which wyrd does not.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: wyrd or weird?
wyrd vs weird
Weird now means strange; it comes from wyrd, but wyrd keeps the older meaning of fate.
Practice
In Old English poetry, the word wyrd is best understood as meaning ______.
Choose one answer.
Wyrd means fate, the force deciding events. Weird, which descends from it, now means strange, but a spell, sword or feast are not what wyrd names.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “wyrd”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.