Pronunciations
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/wɪt͡ʃ/
Noun
A person (now usually particularly a woman) who uses magical or similar supernatural powers to influence or predict events, particularly one with malicious motives.
- Examples
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He cannot abide the old woman of Brentford; he swears she's a witch.
It was easy to understand that they were witches, who had turned themselves into ravens.
More examples (3)
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.
Recently in Sydney we met a male witch who claimed that witchcraft was his full-time occupation.
Several of the Leechbook recipes would have done credit to the witches in Macbeth.
A person who follows Wicca or similar New Age pagan beliefs.
- Examples
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More examples (2)
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.
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.
An ugly or unpleasant woman.
Usage- Derogatory
- Figurative
- Examples
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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.
Verb
To dowse for water.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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And I told him there's a vein down there, I know 'caus I used to—uh, I went out here and witched one for this house, at the corner.
Nothing would make him shut up until I brought my dogwood stick into his office and witched for water.
More examples (1)
Eventually, Don and Jim built nice big houses on their lots. We enjoyed watching them being built. I remember Don's builder came out and “witched” for a well.
Verb
To practise witchcraft.
Usage- Intransitive
- Obsolete
To bewitch.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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She has witched the Queen's womb long ago, and witched the whole harvest.
More examples (3)
The little man was seething and shaking, near collapse with fear and anger. “Tell 'em, Alvy.” “A tenday ago, Will came to the Cockatoo acting crazy, so scared he'd pissed hisself. Said the sorcerer had found him in the stables and witched him.”
“Maybe the Mormonhater witched him. There's lot of stories being told around about that old man.” “Them's lies,” denied South Boy hotly. “He may have scared Havek, but he never witched him.”
Sometime in 1945 he faced an opponent who apparently “witched” him, causing facial paralysis and dizzy spells that rendered him bedridden. An old Indian doctor came to his bedside, looked into his eyes, and proclaimed that he had been witched by his Seminole adversary.
Noun
A cone of paper which is placed in a vessel of lard or other fat and used as a taper.
Noun
A bitch.
Usage- euphemistic
Noun
a female sorcerer or magician
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
a being (usually female) imagined to have special powers derived from the devil
- Broader terms
an ugly evil-looking old woman
- Broader terms
a female believer in Wicca
- Broader terms
Verb
cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something