Where does “Witch” come from?
Witch (English) comes from Middle English wicche, from Old English wiċċe, from Proto-Germanic wikkōną, from Proto-Indo-European wik-néh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European weyk-, from Proto-Indo-European wey- — to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...
Witch (English): A person (now usually particularly a woman) who uses magical or similar supernatural powers to influence or predict events, particularly one with malicious motives
Definitions
- A person (now usually particularly a woman) who uses magical or similar supernatural powers to influence or predict events, particularly one with malicious motives
Ancestry of “Witch”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wicche | witch, wizard, sorceror; pagan, heretic,... |
| 2 | Old English | wiċċe | (female) witch |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | wikkōną | to practice sorcery |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | wik-néh₂- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | weyk- | to separate, to choose; to contain, to envelop;... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wey- | to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;... |