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fée

Fée is the French word for a fairy, a type of supernatural being found in European folklore and literature. In traditional and contemporary narratives, fées are typically depicted as magical beings with powers such as enchantment, shapeshifting, and the ability to grant wishes or alter events. They may act as benevolent guides or mischievous tricksters and are often tied to nature, water, forests, and other liminal spaces. Although many modern depictions show fairies as small, winged figures, appearances in older sources vary and some fées resemble humans or other creatures without wings.

Etymology and scope: The word fée comes from Old French fee or fée, related to the Latin

Folklore and cultural roles: In French and Celtic traditions, fées occupy a wide spectrum of roles. Figures

Modern usage: Today, fée remains a versatile symbol in literature, film, and popular culture, often representing

fatae,
the
Fates,
through
a
common
Romance
lineage.
The
term
has
long
circulated
in
medieval
romance
and
courtly
literature,
and
English
“fairy”
shares
its
cognate
origin.
The
connection
to
fate
and
magic
reflects
early
associations
between
enchantment
and
the
shaping
of
events.
such
as
Mélusine
are
shapeshifting
beings,
Morgane
la
Fée
(Morgan
le
Fay)
appears
as
a
powerful
enchantress
in
Arthurian
legend,
and
fairy
godmothers
feature
in
Perrault’s
tales.
Breton
and
Norman
lore
often
cast
fées
as
guardians
of
landscapes,
springs,
and
wells.
Interactions
with
humans
are
commonly
moralized,
ranging
from
aid
and
protection
to
cautionary
or
disruptive
episodes.
magic,
kindness,
or
wonder.
The
concept
influences
child-oriented
storytelling
and
continues
to
shape
how
French-speaking
audiences
imagine
magical
beings.