English Explanatory Dictionary

folklore

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The tales, legends, superstitions, and traditions of a particular ethnic population.
  2. The tales, superstitions etc. of any particular group or community.
  3. The collective of proofs or techniques which are widely known among mathematicians, but have never been formally published.

Pronunciation

/ˈfəʊk.lɔː/ /ˈfoʊk.lɔːɹ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-folklore.wav

Word forms

folklore folklores folk-lore

Etymology

From folk + lore, coined by British writer William Thoms in 1846 to replace terms such as "popular antiquities". Thoms imitated German terms such as Volklehre (“people's customs”) and Volksüberlieferung (“popular tradition”). Compare also Old English folclar (“popular instruction; homily”) and West Frisian folkloare (“folklore”).

Related words

folk lore myth oral tradition intangible cultural heritage

Derived words

computerlore fakelore folkloric folklorish folklorism folklorist folkloristic folkloristically folkloristics nonfolklore non-folklore pseudofolklore
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