eldritch

Meaning

Adjective

• Unearthly, supernatural, eerie.

Origin

• From the earlier form elritch, of uncertain origin. The second element, -ritch, is generally taken to be Old English rīċe ("realm, kingdom") (see riche). Some think the first element, el-, derives from an Old English root meaning "foreign, strange, other" (related to Old English ellende and modern English else); others think it derives from elf. Reintroduced into popular literature by the writings of H. P. Lovecraft.