Sabbatn.
/saba/ A ‘witches' sabbath’; see sabbath n. 3. Also attributive, and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > sorcerer or magician > witch > [noun] > meeting of
witches' Sabbath1613
Sabbat1652
sabbath1660
coven1662
witches' meeting1693
witch meeting1693
witch sabbath1826
1652 J. Wright tr. J.-P. Camus Nature's Paradox vii. 153 In this Desart corner, which..seemeth onely fit for a Sabat or Assembly of Sorcerers.
1658 tr. S. de Cyrano de Bergerac Satyrical Characters xiii. 54 As to the sabat-voyages, this is my beliefe; they noint themselves with some somniferous oyles, and as while they wake they easily fancy to be carried astride upon a broome through the chimny, into a Hall, where is feasting, dancing, and where they kisse the Goate's brich.
1763 H. Walpole Let. 15 Aug. in Corr. (1941) X. 94 My youthfullity, which bears me out even at a sabbat. I dined last week at Lady Blandford's, with her, the old Denbigh, the old Litchfield, and Methuselah knows who.
1862 E. Bulwer-Lytton Strange Story I. xxvi. 191 I could have fancied myself at a witch's sabbat.
1893 C. G. Leland Memoirs I. 75 The book was a perfect Sabbat of deviltry and dramatic horrors.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1909; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
n.1652