witch
witch Lexical Profile
witch Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person, especially a woman, believed to have magical powers and practice sorcery, typically depicted in folklore and fairy tales as wearing a pointed hat and flying on a broomstick.
"The children dressed up as ghosts, vampires, and witches for Halloween."
A practitioner of modern witchcraft, Wicca, or other Neopagan religions.
"She identifies as a green witch, focusing her magical practice on herbs and nature."
(Derogatory) An unpleasant, spiteful, or ugly woman.
"The old woman next door was known as a local witch because she yelled at anyone who stepped on her lawn."
• verb
To cast a magical spell on; to bewitch or enchant.
"Legend said the sorceress had witched the entire forest, making travelers lose their way."
To search for underground water, minerals, or other hidden items using a divining rod; to douse.
"He was hired by the farmers to witch for water before they dug a new well."
Word Nuance & Usage
While traditionally associated with malicious folklore figures or used as a derogatory term for a woman, modern usage frequently refers to adherents of Wicca or Neopaganism who proudly reclaim the term as a neutral or positive identifier.
• Rhymes for witch
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'wicce' (female witch) and 'wicca' (male witch), derived from the verb 'wiccian' meaning 'to practice witchcraft'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.