One who, or that which, is left or taken in the place of another, as a child exchanged by fairies. Such, men do changelings call, so changed by fairies' theft. Spenser. The changeling [a substituted writing] never known. Shak.
A simpleton; an idiot. Macaulay. Changelings and fools of heaven, and thence shut out. Wildly we roam in discontent about. Dryden.
One apt to change; a waverer. "Fickle changelings." Shak.
Taken or left in place of another; changed. "A little changeling boy." Shak.
Given to change; inconstant. [Obs.] Some are so studiously changeling. Boyle.
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