witchfinder general en · NOUN
Etymology
From witchfinder + general.
Meanings
- (historical) A title assumed by Matthew Hopkins, a 17th-century English witch-hunter.
- (figuratively, qualifier:by analogy) An overly zealous investigator or accuser.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| witchfinder generals | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| witch-finder general | alternative | lexicographic | |
| witchfinders general | Number=Plur | lexicographic |