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In old European folk stories, a changeling is a baby that fairies (or similar spirits) are said to have left in a human cradle after taking the real child away. The parents notice that something is wrong: the baby looks almost the same, but eats strangely, does not grow, or feels like a different soul in the same small body.
In old European folk stories在古老的歐洲民間故事裡， a changeling換生靈 is是 a baby一個嬰兒； fairies (or similar spirits) are said to have據說妖精（或類似的靈） after taking the real child away把真正的孩子帶走之後， left in a human cradle會把牠留在人類的搖籃裡 The parents notice父母會注意到 that something is wrong有點不對勁： the baby looks almost the same這個嬰兒看起來幾乎一樣， but eats strangely但吃東西很奇怪、 does not grow不長大， or feels like a different soul in the same small body或感覺像是同一個小身體裡住著不同的靈魂
People told the story to explain illness, unusual children, or a grief they could not name. It is a story-word now, not a doctor’s word, and you meet it in fairy tales, fantasy books, and talk about old belief.
People told the story人們講這個故事， to explain illness, unusual children, or a grief they could not name是為了解釋疾病、不尋常的孩子，或是一種說不出名字的傷痛 It is a story-word now現在這個字是故事用語， not a doctor's word不是醫生的用語， and you meet it in fairy tales, fantasy books, and talk about old belief你會在童話、奇幻小說，還有講古老信仰的內容裡看到它
Though actually, the same idea was once used in a cruel way: calling someone a changeling could mean you thought they were foolish or “not right”, because the stolen-child story was how some communities talked about children who were different. We do not use it that way now, and we should not.
Though actually不過其實， the same idea was once used in a cruel way同樣的想法曾經被用得很殘忍： calling someone a changeling could mean you thought they were foolish or "not right"說某人是換生靈，可能是說你覺得他很笨或「不對勁」， because the stolen-child story was how some communities talked about children who were different因為換子的故事，正是有些社群用來講不一樣的孩子的方式 We do not use it that way now我們現在不會這樣用， and we should not也不應該這樣用
原始詞典資料7 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
changelingnoun/ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/
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artsfolklorehistoryIn pre-modern European folklore: an infant of a magical creature that was secretly exchanged for a human infant. In British, Irish and Scandinavian mythology the exchanged infants were thought to be those of fairies, sprites or trolls; in other places, they were ascribed to demons, devils, or witches.
- [S]he, as her attendant, hath / A louely boy ſtollen, from an Indian king: / She neuer had ſo ſweete a changeling.
- Every Lover admires his miſtris, though ſhee be very deformed of her ſelfe, […] her feet ſtinke, ſhee breed lice, a meere changeling, a very monſter, […]: if he loue her once, he admires her for all this, he takes no notice of any ſuch errors, or imperfections of body or minde.
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A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else.
- When I firſt read Mr. Walker’s Circular Letter to the Arch-deacons, I fancied he intended to give us an Account of thoſe worthy Men, […] But after about ten Years going with this Work, and that the Time of its Birth was come, I ſoon found it to be a perfect Changeling. Inſtead of what I expected it to be, I ſaw a huge Heap of the moſt Heterogeneous Characters, […] a great many of them much more deſerving to have their Names blotted out, than their Memory to be preſerved.
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rareinformalAn infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling.
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fantasyliteraturemediaAn organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter.
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archaicA person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer.
- To face the garment of rebellion / With ſome fine colour that may pleaſe the eye / Of fickle changlings and poore diſcontents, / Which gape and rub the elbow at the newes / Of hurly-burly innouation, […]
- Fal[staff]. […] If you will lodge with me in Eaſtcheap, you ſhall ſee the thouſand pound fairly ſpent in ſack: you ſhall ſhare with me to the utmoſt farthing. But for dry reſtitution, I have not been accustom'd to it of many years. You would not have me a changeling at this time of day, I hope, Maſter Shallow. / Shal[low]. Changeling! no, Sir John, thou art no changeling; but, depend on it, I will not put up with this wrong. […] I will have my money; depend on't I will have my money.
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obsoleteAn idiot, a simpleton.
- They alſo obſerue Lunaticks and changelings, and the Coniurer writeth downe their ſayings in a booke, groueling on the ground, as if he whiſperd to the Deuill to tell him the truth, and ſo expoundeth the letter, as it were by inſpiration.
- We wander in the Fields of Air below: / Changlings and Fooles of Heav'n: and thence ſhut out, / Wildly we roam in diſcontent about: […]
changelingadj/ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/
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archaicrareChangeable, fickle, inconstant, wavering.
- Away thou changeling motley humouriſt, / Leave me, and in this ſtanding wooden cheſt, / Conſorted with theſe few books, let me lye / In priſon, and here be coffin'd, when I dye.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。