noun
- old women, especially those considered ugly or malicious
Usage: archaic; often derogatory
Examples
- The village children feared the beldames who lived in the cottage by the woods.
- In old fairy tales, beldames often served as antagonists to young heroes.
- The playwright portrayed the three beldames as cackling prophets of doom.
- Medieval literature frequently featured beldames as symbols of evil or wisdom.
- The artist’s painting depicted ancient beldames gathered around a cauldron.