sorceress

American  

[sawr-ser-is] / ˈsɔr sər ɪs /

noun

1. a woman who practices sorcery; witch.

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Usage

What does sorceress mean? A sorceress is a woman who can perform sorcery—witchcraft or magic.The word sorcerer means the same thing but can be used for any gender, although it typically refers to a man.The word sorcery often (though not always) refers to so-called black magic—magic used for evil purposes. That’s why sorceress and sorcerer are often used to refer to evil characters in works of fiction, especially in the fantasy genre.In contrast, similar words like wizard and magician usually imply that such figures use their powers for good. If not, you’d usually call them an evil wizard or evil magician.Apart from whether or not they use their supernatural powers for good or evil, the words sorcerer and sorceress often imply that such a person is very powerful due to having great skill and command of such powers.For this reason, the word sorceress is sometimes used in a figurative way to refer to a woman who is very skilled at something, as if she has magical abilities, as in Maureen is a sorceress at coding. The word sorcery can be used to refer to such skill. The words wizard and wizardry are used (even more commonly) in the same ways.Example: The sorceress has cast a powerful spell to enchant this land.

Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of sorceress

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French sorceresse, equivalent to sorcer ( sorcerer ) + -esse -ess

Example Sentences

Elphaba, in contrast, is a naturally talented sorceress whose green skin led her father to reject her from the moment she was born.

From Salon

“Wicked” also benefited from mostly positive reviews hyping the performances of its leading sorceresses.

From Los Angeles Times

Jennifer Kale, for instance, is a sorceress who first appeared in an issue of the horror comic “Adventure into Fear” in the 1970s.

From Los Angeles Times

The pattern across the jersey is inspired by a fifth-century BC vase attributed to Persephone, which depicts Ulysses and the sorceress Circe in Homer's Odyssey.

From BBC

Grande, who plays the sparkling sorceress in the upcoming ”Wicked” movie musical, came under scrutiny this week after a viral interview clip showed her changing her speaking voice mid-dialogue.

From Los Angeles Times