witch en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /wɪt͡ʃ/
- (US) audio
- wĭch
Etymology
Etymology tree Old English wiċċe Proto-Germanic *wikkōną Proto-West Germanic *wikkōn Proto-Indo-European *-ō Proto-Germanic *-ô Proto-West Germanic *-ō Proto-West Germanic *wikkō Old English wiċċa Middle English wicche English witch The noun is from Middle English wicche, from Old English wiċċe (“(female) witch; sorceress”) and wiċċa (“(male) witch; sorcerer; warlock”), deverbative from wiċċian (“to practice sorcery”), from Proto-Germanic *wikkōną (compare West Frisian wikje, wikke (“to foretell; to warn”), German Low German wicken (“to soothsay”), Dutch wikken, wichelen (“to dowse; to divine”)), from Proto-Indo-European *wik-néh₂-, derivation of *weyk- (“to consecrate; to separate”); akin to Latin victima (“sacrificial victim”), Lithuanian viẽkas (“life-force”), Sanskrit वि॒नक्ति॑ (vinákti, “to set apart; to separate out”). Possibly related to wicked; see that entry for more. The verb derives from the noun. The mathematical curve derives from a translation by John Colson of the Italian versiera, from a confusion with versoria (“rope”) and avversaria (“witch”).
Meanings
-
A person (now usually particularly a woman) who uses magical or similar supernatural powers to influence or predict events, particularly one with malicious motives.
However, the word "witch" came to be applied almost exclusively to women who were believed to achieve their power by making a blood pact with the Devil, sealed with their blood. They were usually old and ugly, and for this reason many unfortunate old ladies, whose only crimes were loneliness and a lack of beauty, went to the stake.
1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 106:It was easy to understand that they were witches, who had turned themselves into ravens.
1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 186:Several of the Leechbook recipes would have done credit to the witches in Macbeth.
1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 127:Recently in Sydney we met a male witch who claimed that witchcraft was his full-time occupation.
1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 69:He cannot abide the old woman of Brentford; he swears she's a witch.
c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
-
A person who follows Wicca or similar New Age pagan beliefs.
To be considered a Witch of a particular tradition you will have to be initiated into that tradition by someone else within that tradition, after following their specific program of study.
2013 November 8, Edain McCoy, If You Want to be a Witch: A Practical Introduction to the Craft, Llewellyn Worldwide, →ISBN:For many neopagan witch traditions the moon is seen as both a symbol of the Goddess and of the witch's power, symbolically, and the belief is that the full moon is the best time for all acts of magic.
2019 March 29, Trevor Greenfield, Pagan Portals - What is Modern Witchcraft?: Contemporary Developments in the Ancient Craft, John Hunt Publishing, →ISBN:
-
(derogatory, figuratively) An ugly or unpleasant woman.
I hate that old witch.
- One who exercises more-than-common power of attraction; a charming or bewitching person.
- One given to mischief, especially a woman or child.
- A certain curve of the third order, described by Maria Agnesi under the name versiera.
- A storm petrel.
- Any of a number of flatfish of species: ▸ Glyptocephalus cynoglossus (witch flounder or Torbay sole), found in the North Atlantic.
- Any of a number of flatfish of species: ▸ Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (megrim), found in the North Atlantic.
- Any of a number of flatfish of species: ▸ Caulopsetta scapha (syn. Arnoglossus scapha), found near New Zealand.
- Any member of the species Araotes lapithis of Indomalayan butterflies, of the family Lycaenidae.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| witches | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
witch-ridden · witch hazel · witch elm · witch of Agnesi · witchkind · as nervous as a witch · witches' stone · witch's milk · witch's water · witch-knot · witchish · witch bottle · witch's moneybags (Hylotelephium telephium · witch cult · witch's thimbles · water-witch · steppe-witch · witch-smeller · witch-elm · witch-finder · witchy · witch moth · witchdom · witch's bridle · witch house · witch stone · witch alder · witchspirit · witch-hunt · witch doctress · cottage witch · black witch · witchfinding · witch hat · Witchblr · witches' besom · shadow witch · witch-hunting · witchfinder · witchweed · witch hunter · witch's broom · witch's thimble · witch-hunty · witchcraft · witch doctor · witch-hazel cone gall · half-witch · bewitch · witch ball · kitchen witch · witch's teat · wind-witch · witches' knickers · witch's hair · witch's bells · witching hour · witch-meal · WitchTok · Witch of November · man-witch · white witch · cold as a witch's tit · witch-hazel cone gall aphid · witch's egg · witch grass · witchlet · witches' cauldron · witches' brew · witches' Sabbath · witch's ladder · witch craze · witches' butter · witchgrass · witchlike · witch's besom · witchling · hedge witch · witch hunt · witcher · witch-hazel · nonwitch · witch's stirrup · witch flounder · witchery · witchcamp · witch ladder · witch window
Synonyms
old woman (an ugly or unpleasant woman) · sorceress (female magic user) · wizard (male magic user) · wizardess (female magic user) · sorcerer (male magic user) · magician (person who uses magic) · ugly woman · warlock (male magic user) · shrew
Translations (369)
km ឌាក៌នី (person who uses magic) · gl bruxa (person who uses magic) · es bruja (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · rm streia (person who uses magic) · es bruja (person who uses magic) · lmo stria (person who uses magic) · sh štrȉga (person who uses magic) · sh вѐштица (person who uses magic) · sco weird-woman (person who uses magic) · pt bruxa (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · it saga (person who uses magic) · la strix (person who uses magic) · sco gyre carline (person who uses magic) · ks ڈٲن (person who uses magic) · kn ಮಾಯಗಾತಿ (person who uses magic) · xh igqwirhakazi (person who uses magic) · la venēfica (person who uses magic) · uk чарівни́ця (person who uses magic) · ka დედაბერი (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · ca bruixa (person who uses magic) · ka კუდიანი (person who uses magic) · ga cailleach Ultach (person who uses magic) · mfe churel (person who uses magic) · xcl հմայք (person who uses magic) · ht sòsyè (person who uses magic) · nuj omulogo class 1 (person who uses magic) · id ahli sihir (person who uses magic) · ga báirseach (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · ltg rogona (person who uses magic) · fr sorcière (person who uses magic) · sco witch-carline (person who uses magic) · cy dewines (person who uses magic) · non vǫlva (person who uses magic) · lv ragana (person who uses magic) · pl jędza (person who uses magic) · sco ell-woman (person who uses magic) · sk bosorka (person who uses magic) · ga málóid (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · arc חרשתא (person who uses magic) · ang hægtesse (person who uses magic) · da heks (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · cs čarodějnice (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · rom drabarìca (person who uses magic) · hu boszorkány (person who uses magic) · non seiðkona (person who uses magic) · uz jodugar (person who uses magic) · gu ચૂડેલ (person who uses magic) · rmo čovaxani (person who uses magic) · ce гӏам (person who uses magic) · hy վհուկ (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · eu belagile (person who uses magic) · cmn 師婆 /师婆 (person who uses magic) · te మంత్రగత్తె (person who uses magic) · ga seanchailleach (person who uses magic) · rom ćovaxani (person who uses magic) · sco wancanny carlin (person who uses magic) · smj guobas (person who uses magic) · sco witch-wife (person who uses magic) · sco witch-queen (person who uses magic) · ro vrăjitor (person who uses magic) · ceb bruha (person who uses magic) · yao msaŵi class 1 (person who uses magic) · nds-de Hex (person who uses magic) · hrx Hex (person who uses magic) · nrf chorchiéthe (person who uses magic) · fur strie (person who uses magic) · eo sorĉistino (person who uses magic) · sco witch (person who uses magic) · ce ешап (person who uses magic) · ja 鬼女 (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · br sorserez (person who uses magic) · egl stria (person who uses magic) · ko 무당 (person who uses magic) · bg ве́щица (person who uses magic) · la magus (person who uses magic) · gl xugota (person who uses magic) · fo gívur (person who uses magic) · ru карга́ (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · ms sahir (person who uses magic) · cmn 巫 (person who uses magic) · ur چُڑَیل (person who uses magic) · bg вълше́бница (person who uses magic) · hi डाइन (person who uses magic) · twf còhəoʼóna (person who uses magic) · sco galdragon (person who uses magic) · nb heks (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · th แม่มด (person who uses magic) · la lamia (person who uses magic) · lmo strïon (person who uses magic) · de Hexer (person who uses magic) · ga cailleach feasa (person who uses magic) · vo himagivan (person who uses magic) · be ве́дзьма (person who uses magic) · ru колду́нья (person who uses magic) · gl bruxa (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · lv mačka (person who uses magic) · tg соҳира (person who uses magic) · sl čarovnica (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · fr stryge (person who uses magic) · ks رانٛٹَس (person who uses magic) · udi куси (person who uses magic) · fy tsjoenster (person who uses magic) · la pȳthōnissa (person who uses magic) · krl noita (person who uses magic) · ru ве́дьма (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · ar سَاحِرَة (person who uses magic) · gl chamorra (person who uses magic) · lb Hex (person who uses magic) · az cadugər (person who uses magic) · tg ҷодугарзан (person who uses magic) · tg албастӣ (person who uses magic) · gl saga (person who uses magic) · ang wiċċa (person who uses magic) · sh vjèštica (person who uses magic) · fa-ira ساحِرِه (person who uses magic) · tl mananagisama (person who uses magic) · tn moloi (person who uses magic) · gl sursuncorda (person who uses magic) · sk čarodejnica (person who uses magic) · nb heks (person who uses magic) · da heks (person who uses magic) · ny mfiti (person who uses magic) · pl heksa (person who uses magic) · ta விரிச்சிகன் (person who uses magic) · nan-hbl 神姐 (person who uses magic) · pl wiedźma (person who uses magic) · gd bana-bhuidseach (person who uses magic) · sh vèštica (person who uses magic) · is norn (person who uses magic) · vro nõid (person who uses magic) · mfe sorsier (person who uses magic) · ru кики́мора (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · vec striga (person who uses magic) · hy կախարդ (person who uses magic) · oc fachinièra (person who uses magic) · cmn 女妖 (person who uses magic) · pl czarownica (person who uses magic) · hsb kuzłarnča (person who uses magic) · et nõid (person who uses magic) · fi akka (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · bg магьо́сница (person who uses magic) · ta சூனியக்காரி (person who uses magic) · ce алмаз (person who uses magic) · id nenek sihir (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · de Hexenmeister (person who uses magic) · co sdreia (person who uses magic) · km មេមត់ (person who uses magic) · hu bába (person who uses magic) · cwa omurogi class 1 (person who uses magic) · mk вештерка (person who uses magic) · mk вештерка (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · hu boszorkány (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · de Hexe (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · cs čarodějnice (person who uses magic) · ko 마녀 (person who uses magic) · bg ве́щица (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · lo ແມ່ມົດ (person who uses magic) · co moca (person who uses magic) · pl wiedźma (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · my ရွာသူ (person who uses magic) · ko 마귀할멈 (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · de Gabelreiterin (person who uses magic) · la sāga (person who uses magic) · eu sorgin (person who uses magic) · rml vjeďma (person who uses magic) · ms ahli sihir (person who uses magic) · mg mpamosavy (person who uses magic) · kl kussuk (person who uses magic) · gl vedoreira (person who uses magic) · la striga (person who uses magic) · sl čarovnica (person who uses magic) · tr cadaloz (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · it strega (person who uses magic) · gv buitçh (person who uses magic) · cy gwrach (person who uses magic) · ce гӏам (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · kg ndoki (person who uses magic) · sga ammait (person who uses magic) · ka გრძნეული (person who uses magic) · cwa omuturutumbi class 1 (person who uses magic) · mi hinematarau (person who uses magic) · li heks (person who uses magic) · cmn 神婆 (person who uses magic) · mk волшебничка (person who uses magic) · fr sorcière (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · tpi sanguma meri (person who uses magic) · sv trollpacka (person who uses magic) · sl coprnca (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · sw mchawi (person who uses magic) · sco sorceres (person who uses magic) · nl kol (person who uses magic) · syc ܚܪܫܬܐ (person who uses magic) · gl bieiteira (person who uses magic) · gu વિચ (person who uses magic) · ady уды (person who uses magic) · la maleficus (person who uses magic) · qu layqa (person who uses magic) · ru чароде́йка (person who uses magic) · hil bahoy (person who uses magic) · es maga (person who uses magic) · pyu temararamaw (person who uses magic) · mt saħħara (person who uses magic) · sq yshtëse (person who uses magic) · non galdrakona (person who uses magic) · he מְכַשֵּׁפָה (person who uses magic) · gd ban-draoidh (person who uses magic) · krc обур (person who uses magic) · vo magivan (person who uses magic) · vot nõitõ (person who uses magic) · pdc Hex (person who uses magic) · oc bruèissa (person who uses magic) · tpi puripurimeri (person who uses magic) · la sāgus (person who uses magic) · ca bruixa (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · ga amaid (person who uses magic) · zza cındar (person who uses magic) · war barangan (person who uses magic) · nds-de Witsch (person who uses magic) · tr sihirbaz (person who uses magic) · wym pyłwajs (person who uses magic) · sh штри̏га (person who uses magic) · kl ilisiitsoq (person who uses magic) · tr büyücü (person who uses magic) · sux 𒊩𒈦𒈦 (person who uses magic) · rom ćovali (person who uses magic) · nl mare (person who uses magic) · kn ಮಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ಸ್ತ್ರೀ (person who uses magic) · ga raicleach (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · pt feiticeira (person who uses magic) · egl strìa (person who uses magic) · scn magara (person who uses magic) · fi ämmä (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · grc φαρμακίς (person who uses magic) · de Hexe (person who uses magic) · cmn 魔女 (person who uses magic) · la fascinātor (person who uses magic) · it maliarda (person who uses magic) · ga bean Ultach (person who uses magic) · sat ᱯᱷᱩᱠᱨᱤᱱ (person who uses magic) · sv trollkvinna (person who uses magic) · nds-de Wicker (person who uses magic) · nl heks (person who uses magic) · it versiera (person who uses magic) · gd buidseach (person who uses magic) · nl heks (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · pdt Hakjs (person who uses magic) · sh còprnica (person who uses magic) · tr cadı (person who uses magic) · ml മന്ത്രവാദം (person who uses magic) · is galdrakerling (person who uses magic) · my ကဝေ (person who uses magic) · sco wise woman (person who uses magic) · ps جادوګره (person who uses magic) · enm wicche (person who uses magic) · pt estria (person who uses magic) · uk ві́дьма (person who uses magic) · dsb chódota (person who uses magic) · gl bencedeira (person who uses magic) · ps شیشکه (person who uses magic) · kbd уд (person who uses magic) · gv ben obbee (person who uses magic) · fo gandakelling (person who uses magic) · rml vedzma (Litovska) (person who uses magic) · pt estrige (person who uses magic) · la fascinātrīx (person who uses magic) · gl lurpia (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · co maga (person who uses magic) · vo jimagivan (person who uses magic) · ja 魔女 (person who uses magic) · vep noid (person who uses magic) · ko 귀녀 (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · it fattucchiera (person who uses magic) · ga cailleach (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · kn ಮಾಟಗಾತಿ (person who uses magic) · kk жезтырнақ (person who uses magic) · cmn 女巫 (person who uses magic) · rmw čovexani (person who uses magic) · rml čovaxanî (person who uses magic) · ru волше́бница (person who uses magic) · af heks (person who uses magic) · rm stria (person who uses magic) · lt ragana (person who uses magic) · ro vrăjitoare (person who uses magic) · nn trollkjerring (person who uses magic) · gl distria (person who uses magic) · cmn 巫人 (person who uses magic) · rom drabarni (person who uses magic) · cmn 巫婆 (person who uses magic) · hu boszorka (person who uses magic) · nv áńtʼį́į́hii (person who uses magic) · xcl վհուկ (person who uses magic) · sq shtrigë (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · la maga (person who uses magic) · vi phù thuỷ (person who uses magic) · sco wise wife (person who uses magic) · gv caillagh (person who uses magic) · udi тӏатӏмер (person who uses magic) · el μάγισσα (person who uses magic) · gl antaruxa (person who uses magic) · tl mangkukulam (person who uses magic) · hy վհուկ (person who uses magic) · ky желмогуз (person who uses magic) · roa-opt sorteira (person who uses magic) · sco hexie (person who uses magic) · ccc shikechpalo (person who uses magic) · sga badb (person who uses magic) · rml čovaxani (Latvia) (person who uses magic) · ast bruxa (person who uses magic) · eo harpio (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · gl lurpia (person who uses magic) · nds-de Wickersche (person who uses magic) · bg чароде́йка (person who uses magic) · gl meiga (person who uses magic) · stq Häkse (person who uses magic) · my စုန်း (person who uses magic) · gl nubeira (person who uses magic) · id penyihir (person who uses magic) · yi מכשפֿה (person who uses magic) · sw mchawi (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · hi चुड़ैल (person who uses magic) · ang wiċċe (person who uses magic) · id nenek lampir (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · sk striga (person who uses magic) · oc masca (person who uses magic) · tpi poisinmeri (person who uses magic) · nv adiłgąshii (person who uses magic) · hi जादूगरनी (person who uses magic) · sh вјѐштица (person who uses magic) · nn heks (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · gl feiticeira (person who uses magic) · pt bruxa (person who uses magic) · be чараўні́ца (person who uses magic) · ru ве́дьма (person who uses magic) · gl fada (person who uses magic) · ms penyihir (person who uses magic) · la malefica (person who uses magic) · ng omulogi class 1 (person who uses magic) · ceb mamamarang (person who uses magic) · nl tovenares (person who uses magic) · nn heks (person who uses magic) · rmo heksa (person who uses magic) · es hechicera (person who uses magic) · fr harpie (derogatory: ugly or unpleasant woman) · kw gwragh (person who uses magic) · co strega (person who uses magic) · gl croucha (person who uses magic) · ady нэгъучӏыцэ (person who uses magic) · ka ჯადოქარი (person who uses magic) · ab арупап (person who uses magic) · sh цо̀прница (person who uses magic) · fi noita (person who uses magic) · kk мыстан (person who uses magic) · la venēficus (person who uses magic) · la fascināns (person who uses magic) · mr चेटकीण (person who uses magic) · ca fetillera (person who uses magic) · br gwrac'h (person who uses magic) · goh hagzissa (person who uses magic) · ga cailleach (person who uses magic) · tsu yoifo (person who uses magic) · frr Gögeler (person who uses magic) · nds-de Wickersch (person who uses magic) · oc fachilhièra (person who uses magic) · hsb chodojta (person who uses magic) · sv häxa (person who uses magic) · uk чаклу́нка (person who uses magic) · gml eteninne (person who uses magic) · ng omulodhi class 1 (person who uses magic) · rmo broška (person who uses magic)