witch

¹witch

noun \ˈwich\

Definition of WITCH

1

: one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially : a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar : sorceress — compare warlock

2

: an ugly old woman : hag

3

: a charming or alluring girl or woman

4

: a practitioner of Wicca

5

: witch of agnesi

— witch·like \ˈwich-ˌlīk\ adjective

— witchy \ˈwi-chē\ adjective

Examples of WITCH

1. an herbalist and self-proclaimed witch
2. Her mother-in-law is a bitter old witch.

Origin of WITCH

Middle English wicche, from Old English wicca, masculine, wizard & wicce, feminine, witch; akin to Middle High German wicken to bewitch, Old English wigle divination, and perhaps to Old High German wīh holy — more at victim

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WITCH

Synonyms

enchantress, hag, hex, sorceress

Related Words

charmer, conjurer (or conjuror), enchanter, necromancer, voodoo, voodooist; magician, sorcerer, warlock, wizard

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

Rhymes with WITCH

bitch, ditch, fitch, flitch, glitch, hitch, itch, kitsch, niche, pitch, quitch, rich, snitch, stitch, such, switch, twitch, which

²witch

verb

Definition of WITCH

transitive verb

1

: to affect injuriously with witchcraft

2

archaic : to influence or beguile with allure or charm

intransitive verb

: dowse

Examples of WITCH

1. <the woman did witch me with her gentle smile>

First Known Use of WITCH

14th century

Related to WITCH

Synonyms

allure, beguile, bewitch, captivate, enchant, fascinate, kill, magnetize, wile, charm [archaic]

Related Words

disarm, draw, entice, lure, pull, seduce, tempt; delight, gratify, please; arrest, enrapture, enthrall (or enthral), entrance; appeal (to), interest, intrigue; beckon, court, invite, solicit, woo

Near Antonyms

disgust, offend, repel, revolt; annoy, displease, irk; bore, tire, weary