witch

[ wich ]

/ wɪtʃ /

noun

a person, now especially a woman, who professes or is supposed to practice magic or sorcery; a sorceress.Compare warlock.

a woman who is supposed to have evil or wicked magical powers: witches in black robes and pointed hats.

an ugly or mean old woman; hag: the old witch who used to own this building.

a person who uses a divining rod; dowser.

verb (used with object)

to bring by or as by witchcraft (often followed by into, to, etc.): She witched him into going.

Archaic. to affect as if by witchcraft; bewitch; charm.

verb (used without object)

to prospect with a divining rod; dowse.

adjective

of, relating to, or designed as protection against witches.

QUIZZES

IT’S A WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ BONANZA!

This windfall of words will make you rich with knowledge. Mine your memory on the words from July 27 to August 2!

Question 1 of 7

What does "scattergood" mean?

a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.

a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.

a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of witch

before 900; Middle English wicche, Old English wicce (feminine; compare wicca(masculine) wizard; see wicked)

OTHER WORDS FROM witch

witch·hood, nounwitch·like, adjectiveun·der·witch, noun

Words nearby witch

wistful, wisła, wit, witan, witblits, witch, witch alder, witch ball, witch doctor, witch grass, witch hazel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for witch

Breitbart forced her to correct a small part of her story, but witch hunts like these will leave every victim cowering.
The Right's Rape Trolls vs. Lena Dunham|Emily Shire|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She faces a jury of famous villains and a judge from the Salem witch trials.
Election Day Is Scarier Than Halloween|P. J. O’Rourke|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Likewise, pressure must be placed on Egypt to abandon its witch hunt of the Muslim Brotherhood.
To Beat ISIS, the Arab World Must Promote Political and Religious Reforms|Rula Jebreal|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Opponents of same-sex marriage say that even liberals have started to feel the effects of the witch hunt.
The Coming Gay Marriage Witch Hunt|David Freedlander|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The film will feature two new songs: one called “Rainbows,” and another for the Witch.
‘Into the Woods’ Gets Disney-ed: Sondheim Confirms Movie Changes to His Musical|Tim Teeman|June 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No doubt the party indicated as the witch was very often another of the "good witches," perhaps a rival.
A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718|Wallace Notestein
The witch goes up in the air with the fire, and nobody sees her any more.
Basque Legends|Wentworth Webster
The only physician of the people for a thousand years was the Witch.
La Sorcire: The Witch of the Middle Ages|Jules Michelet
Firstly, we find her as the beautiful and accomplished daughter of the witch, playing the part of a Medea, without her cruelty.
Kalevala, Volume I (of 2)|Anonymous
In fact she was proud to make her neighbours believe her to be a witch.
Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Second Series|William Bottrell

British Dictionary definitions for witch (1 of 2)

witch¹

/ (wɪtʃ) /

noun

historically, in mythology and fiction, a woman believed to practise magic or sorcery, esp black magic

a practitioner of a Nature-based religion founded on ancient beliefs, which honours both a male and female divine principle and includes the practice of magic, esp healing magic, and divination

informal, derogatory an ugly or wicked woman

a fascinating or enchanting woman

short for water witch

verb

(tr) to cause or change by or as if by witchcraft

a less common word for bewitch

Derived forms of witch

witchlike, adjective

Word Origin for witch

Old English wicca; related to Middle Low German wicken to conjure, Swedish vicka to move to and fro

British Dictionary definitions for witch (2 of 2)

witch²

/ (wɪtʃ) /

noun

a flatfish, Pleuronectes (or Glyptocephalus) cynoglossus, of N Atlantic coastal waters, having a narrow greyish-brown body marked with tiny black spots: family Pleuronectidae (plaice, flounders, etc)

Word Origin for witch

C19: perhaps from witch 1, alluding to the appearance of the fish

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

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