
The English term “weird” derives from the Old English “wyrd,” signifying “fate” or “destiny,” and originally denoted the power to determine or influence outcomes. In Macbeth, Shakespeare’s designation of the “Weird Sisters” reflects this archaic sense, aligning the witches with mythic figures responsible for human destiny. Subsequent theatrical and literary portrayals emphasized their uncanny and grotesque appearance, leading by the nineteenth century to the semantic shift whereby “weird”acquired its contemporary meaning of “strange” or “bizarre.” 🎨 “The Weird Sisters” (1783) by Johann Heinrich Füssli
























