Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
druid

more about druid

druid


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Druid  \Dru"id\,  n.  [L.  Druides;  of  Celtic  origin;  cf  Ir  & 
  Gael.  draoi  druidh,  magician,  Druid,  W.  derwydd  Druid.] 
  1.  One  of  an  order  of  priests  which  in  ancient  times  existed 
  among  certain  branches  of  the  Celtic  race,  especially 
  among  the  Gauls  and  Britons. 
 
  Note:  The  Druids  superintended  the  affairs  of  religion  and 
  morality,  and  exercised  judicial  functions.  They 
  practiced  divination  and  magic,  and  sacrificed  human 
  victims  as  a  part  of  their  worship.  They  consisted  of 
  three  classes;  the  bards,  the  vates  or  prophets,  and 
  the  Druids  proper,  or  priests.  Their  most  sacred  rites 
  were  performed  in  the  depths  of  oak  forests  or  of 
  caves. 
 
  2.  A  member  of  a  social  and  benevolent  order  founded  in 
  London  in  1781,  and  professedly  based  on  the  traditions  of 
  the  ancient  Druids.  Lodges  or  groves  of  the  society  are 
  established  in  other  countries. 
 
  {Druid  stones},  a  name  given  in  the  south  of  England,  to 
  weatherworn,  rough  pillars  of  gray  sandstone  scattered 
  over  the  chalk  downs,  but  in  other  countries  generally  in 
  the  form  of  circles,  or  in  detached  pillars. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  druid 
  n  :  a  pre-Christian  priest  among  the  Celts  of  ancient  Gaul  and 
  Britain  and  Ireland 




more about druid