vila
9.9
A magical woman in Slavic stories who lives in nature and dances
- noun
- /ˈviːlə/
- Literature
:
hada
- Vila stood before me and placed the baby in my arms.
Examples
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As the children told stories around the fire, they imagined a vila bringing gifts from the forest.
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The villagers believed that the vila would dance under the moonlight, enchanting anyone who saw her.
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In the legend, a vila appeared each spring to bless the fields and ensure a bountiful harvest.
Synonyms
560
2.7
A small imagined being that looks like a person and has magic
is Slavic and tied to nature and dancing rather than smallness
9
9.9
A magical being like a fairy in stories and legends
is specifically Slavic and linked to nature and dancing
9.9
A small female spirit like a fairy in stories
is Slavic and tied to dancing rather than youth
Surface Forms
Etymology
Vila comes from Slavic folk tales and names a female nature spirit who dances by lakes and protects animals. Think of a vila like a 'fairy' or 'nymph' of the woods, which is why the word means a magical woman connected to nature.