A more plausible suggestion is that 'Merlin' is an adjective and that consequently we should be speaking of "The Merlin", from the French merle meaning " blackbird", : 79 or that the "many names" deriving from Myrddin stem from the Welsh myrdd 'myriad'. Medievalist Gaston Paris suggests that Geoffrey chose the form Merlinus rather than the expected *Merdinus to avoid a resemblance to the Anglo-Norman word merde (from Latin merda) for feces. Geoffrey of Monmouth Latinised the name to Merlinus in his works. The name "Merlin" is derived from the Brythonic Myrddin, the name of the bard who was one of the chief sources for the later legendary figure. Merlinus (Merlin) in the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493) Other texts variously describe his retirement or death. A popular story from the French prose cycles describes Merlin being bewitched and forever sealed or killed by his student known as the Lady of the Lake after falling in love with her, with a local legend claiming him buried in the magical forest of Brocéliande. Later authors have Merlin serve as the king's advisor and mentor until his disappearance from the tale, leaving behind a series of prophecies foretelling the events yet to come. Merlin matures to an ascendant sagehood and engineers the birth of Arthur through magic and intrigue. Merlin's traditional biography casts him as an often-mad being, born of a mortal woman, sired by an incubus, from whom he inherits his supernatural powers and abilities, most commonly and notably prophecy and shapeshifting. Later writers in France and elsewhere expanded the account to produce a fuller image, creating one of the most important figures in the imagination and literature of the Middle Ages. Geoffrey's rendering of the character became immediately popular, especially in Wales. It is believed that Geoffrey combined earlier tales of Myrddin and Ambrosius, two legendary Briton prophets with no connection to Arthur, to form the composite figure called Merlinus Ambrosius ( Welsh: Myrddin Emrys, Breton: Merzhin Ambroaz). His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and legendary figures, was introduced by the 12th-century British author Geoffrey of Monmouth. Merlin ( Welsh: Myrddin, Cornish: Marzhin, Breton: Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. Lady of the Lake, Morgan le Fay, Sebile (romance tradition) Prophet, magician, bard, advisor, warrior, others (depending on the source) The Enchanter Merlin, Howard Pyle's illustration for The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (1903)
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