Dictionary

bewitch en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /bəˈwɪt͡ʃ/

Etymology

From Middle English bewicchen, bewycchen, biwicchen, equivalent to be- + witch.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To cast a spell upon.
   • And further, this examinate saith, that she sent both her spirits to Stonesby, to one Willison, a husbandman, and Robert Williman, a husbandman's son, and bade the kitten go to Willison and bewitch him to death, and the moldiwarp to the other and bewitch him to death, which they did, and within ten days they died. 1852, Thomas Wright, “Witchcraft in England during the Earlier Part of the Seventeenth Century” (chapter XXIV), in Narratives of Sorcery and Witchcraft from the most Authentic Sources, page 288:
   • But above all beware never to look the Fairy of the Dawn in the face, for she has eyes that will bewitch you, and glances that will befool you. 1901, Andrew Lang, “The Fairy of the Dawn”, in The Violet Fairy Book:
   • Afterwards Jim said the witches bewitched him and put him in a trance,[…] 1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter II, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, page 10:
   • She so bewitched the whole princely race that six different princes, although each was married to a young wife, remained childless. 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 93:
2. (transitive) To fascinate or charm.
   • A Svveet diſorder in the dreſſe / Kindles in cloathes a vvantonneſſe: / […] / A Cuffe neglectfull, and thereby / Ribbands to flovv confuſedly: / […] / Do more bevvitch me, than vvhen Art / Is too preciſe in every part. 1648, Robert Herrick, “Delight in Disorder”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 29:
   • I was bewitched by the sight of the girl dancing in the forest.
3. (rare, transitive) To astonish, amaze.
   • Is it not a fact that the miners of this country are bewildered and bewitched and do not know what is to happen? 1967 May 9, Eldon Wylie Griffiths, “Fuel And Power Policy”, in parliamentary debates (UK House Of Commons), volume 746, column 1260:

Forms

Deriveds

bewitching · bewitchee · bewitchingly · bewitchery · bewitchedness · bewitchment · bewitchable · bewitchingness · bewitchful · bewitcher · unbewitch

Synonyms

interest · spell · pull in · astound · forspeak · engage · charm · wow · forspeak · spellbind · arrest · beckon · pull · enchant · becry · amaze · beglammer · delight · fascinate · hypnotize · entrance · bespell · hypnotize · beguile · enchant · tole · witch · bewitch · beglammer · mesmerize · effascinate · bewitch · witch · wow · spellcast · englamour · bespell · captivate · enrapture · enspell · bechat · sirenize · attract · seduce · astonish · ensorcell · glamour · spellbind · astound · jinx · hex · mojo · intrigue · allure · conjure · tempt · bewitch · enthrall · court · enthrall · maleficiate · surprise · draw · forspeak · becharm

Translations (104)

pl oczarowywać (fascinate, charm) · gl embruxar (fascinate, charm) · sco blink (to cast a spell upon) · nds-de betövern (to cast a spell upon) · es embrujar (to cast a spell upon) · nn forhekse (to cast a spell upon) · da fortrylle (to cast a spell upon) · it stregare (to cast a spell upon) · nds-de vertövern (to cast a spell upon) · rw kuroga (to cast a spell upon) · hu megbabonáz (to cast a spell upon) · tr büyülemek (fascinate, charm) · sco forspeak (to cast a spell upon) · it incantare (to cast a spell upon) · pl zauroczyć (fascinate, charm) · uk зачарува́ти (to cast a spell upon) · ru околдо́вывать (to cast a spell upon) · sco beglamour (to cast a spell upon) · sv förhäxa (to cast a spell upon) · nrf entchéthaûder (to cast a spell upon) · ro vrăji (to cast a spell upon) · yao kuloga (to cast a spell upon) · cs učarovat (to cast a spell upon) · la fascino (fascinate, charm) · ny kulódza (to cast a spell upon) · pl zaczarować (to cast a spell upon) · pt enfeitiçar (to cast a spell upon) · nrf enchorchéler (to cast a spell upon) · eo sorĉi (to cast a spell upon) · ru оба́ивать (fascinate, charm) · mi whaiā (to cast a spell upon) · nb forhekse (to cast a spell upon) · cs zaklít (to cast a spell upon) · grc κηλέω (fascinate, charm) · lon ollowa (to cast a spell upon) · az ovsunlamaq (to cast a spell upon) · nmn gǁxài (to cast a spell upon) · sh ukleti (to cast a spell upon) · izh noitua (to cast a spell upon) · sw kuroga (to cast a spell upon) · sq ysht (to cast a spell upon) · mi whitihoro (to cast a spell upon) · la incanto (to cast a spell upon) · fr envoûter (to cast a spell upon) · es hechizar (to cast a spell upon) · tr büyü yapmak (to cast a spell upon) · gl enfeitizar (to cast a spell upon) · pl oczarować (fascinate, charm) · izh noitia (to cast a spell upon) · grc θέλγω (fascinate, charm) · sh зачарати (to cast a spell upon) · bg омайвам (to cast a spell upon) · sco glamour (to cast a spell upon) · be зачаро́ўваць (to cast a spell upon) · fi noitua (to cast a spell upon) · de verhexen (to cast a spell upon) · uk зачаровува́ти (to cast a spell upon) · sco hex (to cast a spell upon) · sv förhäxa (fascinate, charm) · ny kuchísa (to cast a spell upon) · da forhekse (to cast a spell upon) · mk маѓепса (to cast a spell upon) · rub kuloga (to cast a spell upon) · la effascino (to cast a spell upon) · nl betoveren (to cast a spell upon) · cs začarovat (to cast a spell upon) · cwa okuroga (to cast a spell upon) · mi whaiwhaiā (to cast a spell upon) · ro fascina (to cast a spell upon) · tum kulowa (to cast a spell upon) · sco vaum (to cast a spell upon) · ru зачарова́ть (to cast a spell upon) · gl enfeitizar (fascinate, charm) · mi mākutu (to cast a spell upon) · css aami (fascinate, charm) · fr ensorceler (to cast a spell upon) · qu layqay (to cast a spell upon) · cs okouzlit (to cast a spell upon) · be зачарава́ць (to cast a spell upon) · gl galar (to cast a spell upon) · gl enmeigar (to cast a spell upon) · sh začarati (to cast a spell upon) · sco witch (to cast a spell upon) · vo bemagivön (to cast a spell upon) · ru околдова́ть (to cast a spell upon) · sh уклети (to cast a spell upon) · bg омагьосвам (to cast a spell upon) · ca embruixar (to cast a spell upon) · tr büyülemek (to cast a spell upon) · chr ᎦᏁᎫᏗᎠ (to cast a spell upon) · nuj ohuloga (to cast a spell upon) · tlj kulogha (to cast a spell upon) · ast abruxar (to cast a spell upon) · cs uhranout (to cast a spell upon) · sq mësysh (to cast a spell upon) · ru обая́ть (fascinate, charm) · txb yānk- (to cast a spell upon) · ro fermeca (to cast a spell upon) · la fascino (to cast a spell upon) · ru зачаро́вывать (to cast a spell upon) · grc βασκαίνω (to cast a spell upon) · pl zaczarowywać (to cast a spell upon) · cs očarovat (to cast a spell upon) · gl embruxar (to cast a spell upon)