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.

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Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of witch

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

OTHER WORDS FROM witch

witchhood, nounwitchlike, adjectiveun·der·witch, noun

Words nearby witch

wisteria, wistful, wit, witan, witblits, witch, witch alder, witch ball, witchcraft, witch doctor, witch-elm

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 3)

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 3)

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

British Dictionary definitions for witch (3 of 3)

witch-

wych-

prefix

having pliant brancheswitchweed

Word Origin for witch-

Old English wice and wic; probably from Germanic wik- bend

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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witch