changeling
Switched infant legend
A changeling is a child secretly substituted for another—specifically, in folklore, a fairy or elf child left in place of a stolen human infant.
The word now applies figuratively to any person or thing that seems mysteriously altered or replaced: He came back from college a changeling, unrecognizable to his parents.
In fantasy fiction, changelings are often shapeshifters who can assume others' appearances.
Tiny winged magical creature
- elfSmall magical creature
- spriteTiny magical creature
- pixieTiny magical troublemaker
- feyEerily whimsical, sprite-like
faerie · puck · leprechaun · brownie · goblin · troll · dryad · nymph
Exchange one for another
- switchCircuit-breaking toggle device
- substituteReplacement for another
- replacePut something else there
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
pretender · usurper · double · doppelganger · counterfeit · decoy · infiltrator · phony
Profound biological restructuring
- shapeshifterBeing altering its form
- morphChange form gradually
- transfigureChange appearance dramatically
- transmuteChange in fundamental nature
mutation · altered · uncanny · strange · otherworldly · inhuman · unnatural · grotesque
Deliberate deception or fraud
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- glamourFascinating, elegant attractiveness
masquerade · subterfuge · cunning · sly · duplicitous · feint · pretense · camouflage
Something hard to fathom
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- uncannyEerily beyond normal
baffling · inexplicable · unfathomable · secretive · veiled · eerie · unsettling · suspicion
fairy
Tiny winged magical creature
fey · faerie · puck · leprechaun · brownie · goblin · troll · dryad · nymph · glamour
swap
Exchange one for another
- switchCircuit-breaking toggle device
- substituteReplacement for another
- replacePut something else there
impostor · pretender · usurper · double · doppelganger · counterfeit · decoy · infiltrator · phony · faker
metamorphosis
Profound biological restructuring
- shapeshifterBeing altering its form
- morphChange form gradually
- transfigureChange appearance dramatically
transmute · mutation · altered · uncanny · strange · otherworldly · inhuman · unnatural · grotesque · sickly
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
glamour · masquerade · subterfuge · cunning · sly · duplicitous · feint · pretense · camouflage · mimicry
enigma
Something hard to fathom
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
uncanny · baffling · inexplicable · unfathomable · secretive · veiled · eerie · unsettling · suspicion · recognition
- folklorefairy tales, fairytales, folktales, folk tales, folk tale
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- supernatural beingsghost, demon, phantom, specter, banshee
- Faeriesfairy, fairies, fae, faerie, fey
- Fairy Tale Creaturesfairy, witch, wizard, giant, dwarf
- Fairylandfairy, pixie, sprite, elf, fae
changelingnatural child
Child of unmarried parents
legitimate heir · rightful heir · legitimate child · stolen child · authentic self