Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “wicche” come from?

wicche (Middle English) comes 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;...

wicche (Middle English): witch, wizard, sorceror; pagan, heretic,...

Definitions

  1. witch, wizard, sorceror; pagan, heretic,...

Ancestry of “wicche”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishwiċċewitch , sorceress; witch ,sorceress
2Proto-Germanicwikkōnąto practice sorcery
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwik-néh₂-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanweyk-to separate, to choose; to contain, to envelop;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

Words derived from “wicche”

  • witch
  • witchery
  • witching
  • witchy
  • witchdoctor
  • witchlike
  • witchfinder
  • witchweed
  • witchingly
  • witchly
  • witchgrass
  • witcher
  • witchling
  • witchiness
  • unwitch
  • nonwitch
  • hedgewitch
  • witchily
  • witchlet
  • witch-hunt
  • water witching
  • half-witch
  • witchkind
  • merwitch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey- →