Vampire
Vampire
Vampire (/ˈvæmpaɪər/; from Old French vampyre, and further back to the Serbian vampir) is a term used in folklore to refer to a creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living.
Etymology
The term vampire was first recorded in English in 1734, in a travelogue titled Travels of Three English Gentlemen. The word is derived from the French vampyre or vampyr, which were in turn derived from the Serbian vampir. The Serbian word has roots in Turkish, with uber (witch) and pire (to drink), indicating a creature that drinks the blood of others.
Description
In folklore, a vampire is a creature that is said to live by consuming the blood of the living. The victims often become vampires themselves. Vampires are often depicted as being pale and gaunt with sharp fangs for puncturing the throat of their victims.
Related Terms
- Blood: The vital essence that vampires are said to feed on.
- Folklore: The traditional beliefs and stories of a community, passed through the generations.
- Undead: Beings in mythology, legend, or fiction that are deceased but behave as if they were alive.
- Immortality: The ability to live forever, often attributed to vampires.
- Transylvania: A historical region located in what is now Romania, often associated with vampires.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vampire
- Wikipedia's article - Vampire
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