fabelwezen
Dutch
editEtymology
editFrom fabel (“fable”) + wezen (“creature”), calque of German Fabelwesen. First attested in the late eighteenth century.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editfabelwezen n (plural fabelwezens, diminutive fabelwezentje n)
- mythical, legendary or otherwise imaginary creature
- 1786, J. G. Herder, De geest der Hebreeuwsche poëzy, volume 3, page 28:
- Men herleeze Bocharts (e) zesde boek, over de verdichte dieren, en men herinnere zig de menigvuldige Fabel-wezens in de Oosterſche vertellingen.
- One should reread Bochart's (e) sixth book, about the fictional animals, and one should remember the manifold mythical creatures in the Oriental stories.