alraune
|al-raune|
/ælˈraʊnə/
mandrake / supernatural root (and derived literary figure)
Etymology
'alraune' originates from German, specifically the word 'Alraune', where the element 'al-' is associated with Old High German 'alb' (meaning 'elf') and 'rūna' meant 'secret' or 'mystery' (the compound referred to the mandrake/elf-root).
'alraune' changed from Middle High German 'alrūne' and Old High German 'alrūna' into modern German 'Alraune', and was later borrowed into English in literary and folkloric contexts as 'alraune'.
Initially, it referred specifically to the mandrake plant or its root; over time, through literary usage (notably the 1911 novel and later film adaptations), it also came to denote an artificially created woman or a supernatural humanoid figure.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a mandrake (the root of the mandrake plant), especially in folklore; a plant root thought to have magical or supernatural properties.
Folk tales say the alraune screams when pulled from the ground.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a figure (usually a woman) artificially created or brought to life in legend or literature — famously the title character of early 20th-century German fiction and its film adaptations.
In the novel, the scientist attempts to create an alraune as part of his experiments.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/04 13:25