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Added 9 October 2026

ogre

/ˈəʊ.ɡə/ noun

First recorded: 18th century Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ogre at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A cruel wicked and inhuman person.
(folklore) a giant who likes to eat human beings.

Origin

First attested in the 18th century, borrowed from French ogre, from Latin Orcus (“god of the underworld”), from Ancient Greek Ὅρκος (Hórkos), the personified demon of oaths (ὅρκος (hórkos, “oath”)) who inflicts punishment upon oath-breakers. Doublet of orc and Orcus.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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