druid

noun

dru·​id ˈdrü-id 

often capitalized

: one of an ancient Celtic priesthood appearing in Irish and Welsh sagas and Christian legends as magicians and wizards

druidic

drü-ˈi-dik 

adjective

or druidical

drü-ˈi-di-kəl 

often capitalized

Did you know?

Members of a learned class of priests, teachers, and judges among the ancient Celtic peoples, the druids instructed young men, oversaw sacrifices, judged quarrels, and decreed penalties. They did not engage in warfare and paid no tribute. They studied ancient verse, natural philosophy, astronomy, and religious lore; their principal doctrine was belief in the immortality of the soul and the belief that the soul passed into another body after death. They sometimes practiced human sacrifice to cure gravely ill people or protect warriors in battle. The druids were suppressed in Gaul by the Romans in the first century ce and in Britain a little later. After Christianity came to Ireland, they lost their priestly functions, but survived as poets, historians, and judges.

Examples of druid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And first-century Celtic druids apparently used mistletoe to make a sacred fertility elixir—one historic use that presaged the plant’s now-dominant identity as an excuse for kissing. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024

With central characters based on D&D character classes (like ranger, cleric, druid, etc.), Vox Machina takes on a sort of ragtag Star Wars cadence among its misfits. —Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024

Rather than slice her way through enemies with a sword and shield, Zelda instead plays like summoner or druid, able to call on creatures to fight for her or objects to climb and solve puzzles. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2024

His power comes not from fantastical magic, but from his role as a druid in a deeply superstitious society. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin druides, druidae, plural, from Gaulish druides; akin to Old Irish druí druid, and perhaps to Old English trēow tree

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

druid

noun

dru·​id ˈdrü-əd 

often capitalized

: a member of an ancient Celtic priesthood appearing in sagas and legends as magicians and wizards

druidic

drü-ˈid-ik 

adjective

or druidical

-i-kəl 

often capitalized

druidism

ˈdrü-ə-ˌdiz-əm

noun often capitalized