Plural of duende; in Spanish folklore, mischievous spirits or supernatural beings similar to elves or goblins.
From Spanish 'duende,' possibly derived from 'dueño de' (owner of), or influenced by Portuguese 'duende.' The term traditionally referred to household spirits or poltergeists in Iberian folklore.
Spanish poet Federico García Lorca famously used 'duende' to describe a mysterious creative force—not quite magic, but that inexplicable power that makes great art feel alive and haunting. He basically poetically kidnapped a folklore word to explain genius!
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