Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An important god in the religion of the Germanic tribes of pre-Christian Germany, corresponding to the Norse god Odin.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun supreme Teutonic god; counterpart of Norse Odin and Anglo-Saxon Woden

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[German, from Middle High German, from Old High German Wuotan; see wet- in Indo-European roots.]

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Examples

  • And his word Wotan chose to trust, and gave his heart over to the untroubled enjoyment of his plans 'completion.

    The Wagnerian Romances Gertrude Hall Brownell 1912

  • The first, or upper section of this line -- from Drocourt to Queant -- was called the Wotan line.

    The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders Or, the Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge

  • Before Alberich, however, has caught the words -- his deafness perhaps it is which saves his life -- Loge has called Wotan back to his reason.

    The Wagnerian Romances Gertrude Hall Brownell 1912

  • By anger I mean human anger -- the god's wrath of a Wotan is a different matter.

    Richard Wagner Composer of Operas John F. Runciman 1891

  • 'Wotan's army is approaching Sorviodunum - and the Sword came to me.'

    Last Sword Of Power Gemmell, David 1988

  • And by the end of the month the Hindenburg line had been breached and gone the way of the "Wotan" line.

    Mr. Punch's History of the Great War 1900

  • On my own initiative I expressed my gratitude in an address which I directed to the Grand Duchess herself, enclosing 'Wotan's Abschied' from the finale of the

    My Life — Volume 2 Richard Wagner 1848

  • Trouble began at once with the vocalists for my first concert, fixed for 14th November, as the baritone, Hauser, who was to sing 'Wotan's Farewell' and Hans Sachs's 'Cobbler Song,' was ill and had to be replaced by a voiceless though well-drilled vaudeville singer.

    My Life — Volume 2 Richard Wagner 1848

  • While I was singing 'Wotan's Abschied' to my friends I noticed the same expression on Cosima's face as I had seen on it, to my astonishment, in Zurich on a similar occasion, only the ecstasy of it was transfigured into something higher.

    My Life — Volume 2 Richard Wagner 1848

  • Jung wrote an essay called "Wotan" and in it, he tried to understand developments under Hitler, in terms of the mythology of the god Odin, a.k.a. the Germanic god Wotan.

    The Existentialist Cowboy 2008

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