A fairy ( fey or fae; collectively wee folk, good folk, people of peace, among others) is a spirit or supernatural being, based on the fae of medieval Western European (Old French) folklore and romance. Even in folklore that uses the term "fairy," there are many definitions of what constitutes a fairy. Sometimes the term is used to describe any mystical creature of humanoid appearance, including goblins or gnomes , and at other times only to describe a specific type of more ethereal creature. Many folktales are told of fairies, and they appear as characters in stories from medieval tales of chivalry, to Victorian fairy tales , and up to the present day in modern literature.