- The definition of a witch is a woman thought to be able to cast spells or possess magical powers, or the term connotes evil and can also be used to describe a mean old woman.
- A witch is a woman who has supernatural powers and practices sorcery.
- A witch is a mean, unkind women who people do not like.
- a person, esp. a woman, having supernatural power as by a compact with the devil or evil spirits; sorceress
- an ugly and ill-tempered old woman; hag; crone
- a practitioner or follower of white magic or of Wicca
- Informal a bewitching or fascinating woman or girl
- ☆ water witch (sense )
Origin of witchMiddle English wicche ; from Old English wicce, feminine of wicca, sorcerer, akin to Middle Dutch wicken, to use magic ; from Indo-European base an unverified form weik-, to separate (hence set aside for religious worship) from source Gothic weihs, holy, Old English wig, idol
- to put a magic spell on; bewitch
- Archaic to charm; fascinate
- A person, especially a woman, claiming or popularly believed to possess magical powers and practice sorcery.
- A believer or follower of Wicca; a Wiccan.
- a. Offensive An old woman considered to be ugly or frightening.b. A woman considered to be spiteful or overbearing.c. Informal A woman or girl considered to be charming or fascinating.
- One particularly skilled or competent at one's craft: “A witch of a writer, [she] is capable of developing an intensity that verges on ferocity” (Peter S. Prescott).
verbwitched, witch·ing, witch·es
- To work or cast a spell on; bewitch.
- To cause, bring, or effect by witchcraft.
Origin of witchMiddle English wicche, from Old English wicce, witch, and wicca, wizard, sorcerer; see weg- in Indo-European roots.
- (archaic or dialectal) A man who practises witchcraft.
- A woman who is learned in and actively practices witchcraft.
- (derogatory) 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.
- (geometry) A certain curve of the third order, described by Maria Agnesi under the name versiera.
- The stormy petrel.
- Certain flatfish:
- Glyptocephalus cynoglossus (Torbay sole), found in the North Atlantic.
- Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (megrim), found in the North Atlantic.
- Arnoglossus scapha, found near New Zealand
- (Wicca) A Wiccan.
(third-person singular simple present witches, present participle witching, simple past and past participle witched)
From Middle English wicche, from Old English wiÄ‹Ä‹e (â€œsorceress, witchâ€) and wicca (â€œwitch, sorcerer, warlockâ€), from Proto-Germanic *wikjÃ´ (â€œnecromancer, waker of the deadâ€) (compare West Frisian wikke (â€œwitchâ€), Low German wikken, wicken (â€œto use witchcraftâ€), Old High German wÄ«han (â€œto consecrateâ€), Old English wiÄ¡le (â€œdivinationâ€)), from Proto-Indo-European *weik- 'to choose, sacrifice, conjure'; akin to Latin victima (â€œsacrificial victimâ€), Lithuanian viekas (â€œlife-forceâ€), Sanskrit à¤µà¤¿à¤¨à¤•à¥à¤¤à¤¿ (vinÃ¡kti, â€œto sift, separate outâ€).