bewitch

[bih-wich]

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verb (used with object)

to affect by witchcraft or magic; cast a spell over.

to enchant; charm; fascinate: The painter bewitched the crowd with his latest work.

verb (used without object)

to cause someone to be enchanted; cast a spell over someone: She lost her power to bewitch.

Origin of bewitch

First recorded in 1175–1225, bewitch is from the Middle English word biwicchen. See be-, witch

Related formsbe·witch·er, nounbe·witch·er·y, nounbe·witch·ing·ness, nounbe·witch·ment, nounun·be·witched, adjective

Synonyms for bewitch

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bewitch ON THESAURUS.COM

2. captivate, enrapture, transport.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for bewitch

dazzle, fascinate, enthrall, captivate, hypnotize, beguile, enrapture, enchant, control, capture, entrance, slay, wow, spell, hex, draw, send, tickle, vamp, allure

Examples from the Web for bewitch

Historical Examples of bewitch

Their name, their garb, and work did so intoxicate and bewitch me.'
Bunyan
James Anthony Froude
Through the witchcraft by means of which she has bewitched me, bewitch thou her.
The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria
Morris Jastrow
And she showed us some of the dancing steps and they just bewitch you.
A Little Girl in Old Salem
Amanda Minnie Douglas
Now, it may be that Mrs. Treacher had also allowed Vashti to bewitch her.
Major Vigoureux
A. T. Quiller-Couch
And Gal 3, 1, "Who did bewitch you that ye should not obey the truth?"
Commentary on Genesis, Vol. II
Martin Luther

British Dictionary definitions for bewitch

bewitch

verb (tr)

to attract and fascinate; enchant

to cast a spell over

Derived Formsbewitching, adjectivebewitchingly, adverb

Word Origin for bewitch

C13 bewicchen; see be-, witch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bewitch

c.1200, biwicchen, from be- + Old English wiccian "to enchant, to practice witchcraft" (see witch). Literal at first, figurative sense of "to fascinate" is from 1520s. *Bewiccian may well have existed in Old English, but it is not attested. Related: Bewitched; bewitching; bewitchingly.