Which word denotes a wailing spirit in Irish legend that warns of death?

Which word denotes a wailing spirit in Irish legend that warns of death?

• A. Banshee
• B. Animus
• C. Predeliction
• D. Undergird

Answer: (A)

In Irish folklore, a banshee is a wailing spirit whose cry warns of an impending death in a family. The name comes from the Irish bean sí, meaning “woman of the fairy mounds,” highlighting its roots as a fairy-like female figure who mourns or keens for the dead. The haunting wail is often described as a keening cry heard at night, sometimes associated with funerals or sudden fates, making the banshee a symbol of forewarning rather than an ordinary ghost. The other terms don’t fit this idea. Animus is a psychology term referring to a supposed masculine aspect inside the female psyche (or, more generally, a Latin word for mind or soul), not a supernatural warning figure. Predilection means a preference or liking, and undergird means to support or strengthen from below. None of these relate to a legendary wailing spirit that signals death.

In Irish folklore, a banshee is a wailing spirit whose cry warns of an impending death in a family. The name comes from the Irish bean sí, meaning “woman of the fairy mounds,” highlighting its roots as a fairy-like female figure who mourns or keens for the dead. The haunting wail is often described as a keening cry heard at night, sometimes associated with funerals or sudden fates, making the banshee a symbol of forewarning rather than an ordinary ghost.

The other terms don’t fit this idea. Animus is a psychology term referring to a supposed masculine aspect inside the female psyche (or, more generally, a Latin word for mind or soul), not a supernatural warning figure. Predilection means a preference or liking, and undergird means to support or strengthen from below. None of these relate to a legendary wailing spirit that signals death.