witch
UK: wɪtʃ | US: wɪtʃ
n. a woman believed to have magical powers, often associated with evil or harm
n. (historical) a person, typically female, accused of practicing witchcraft
n. (informal) a woman considered spiteful or unpleasant
witch = wit<know> + ch<agent suffix>
- wit (Old English witan, meaning "to know" or "wisdom")
- ch (agent suffix, akin to -ce in modern English, denoting a person associated with an action or trait)
Etymology Origin:
The word "witch" traces back to Old English wicca (male) and wicce (female), derived from the verb witan ("to know"). This reflects the historical association of witches with secret knowledge or supernatural wisdom. Over time, the term acquired negative connotations, especially during the European witch hunts, where "witch" became linked to malevolent magic. The suffix -ch (or earlier -ce) functioned similarly to modern -er, marking the word as an agent noun ("one who knows").
The villagers accused her of being a witch after the crops failed.
In folklore, a witch often rides a broomstick under the moonlight.
The play portrayed the witch as a misunderstood healer rather than a villain.
She jokingly called her sister a witch for guessing her secret.
Historical records show many "witches" were innocent women targeted by superstition.