In fairy stories, a witch is a woman, usually an old woman, who has evil magic powers. Witches often wear a pointed black hat, and have a pet black cat.
2. countable noun
A witch is someone who claims to have magic powers and to be able to use them for good or bad purposes.
More Synonyms of witch
witch in British English1
(wɪtʃ)
noun
1.
historically, in mythology and fiction, a woman believed to practise magic or sorcery, esp black magic
2.
a practitioner of a Nature-based religion founded on ancient beliefs, which honours both a male and female divine principle and includes the practice of magic, esp healing magic, and divination
3. informal, derogatory
an ugly or wicked woman
4.
a fascinating or enchanting woman
5. short for water witch
verb
6. (transitive)
to cause or change by or as if by witchcraft
7. a less common word for bewitch
Derived forms
witchlike (ˈwitchˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English wicca; related to Middle Low German wicken to conjure, Swedish vicka to move to and fro
witch in British English2
(wɪtʃ)
noun
a flatfish, Pleuronectes (or Glyptocephalus) cynoglossus, of N Atlantic coastal waters, having a narrow greyish-brown body marked with tiny black spots: family Pleuronectidae (plaice, flounders, etc)
Word origin
C19: perhaps from witch1, alluding to the appearance of the fish
witch- in British English
or wych-
prefix
having pliant branches
witchweed
Word origin
Old English wice and wic; probably from Germanic wik- bend
witch in American English
(wɪtʃ)
noun
1.
a person, esp. a woman, having supernatural power as by a compact with the devil or evil spirits; sorceress
2.
an ugly and ill-tempered old woman; hag; crone
3.
a practitioner or follower of white magic or of Wicca
4. Informal
a bewitching or fascinating woman or girl
5. US
water witch (sense 1)
verb transitive
6.
to put a magic spell on; bewitch
7. Archaic
to charm; fascinate
verb intransitive
8. US
dowse2
Derived forms
witchlike (ˈwitchˌlike)
adjective
witchy (ˈwitchy)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈwitchier or ˈwitchiest
Word origin
ME wicche < OE wicce, fem. of wicca, sorcerer, akin to MDu wicken, to use magic < IE base *weik-, to separate (hence set aside for religious worship) > Goth weihs, holy, OE wig, idol
Examples of 'witch' in a sentence
witch
We're clearly looking at a witch hunt here.
The Sun (2016)
NORTHERN Ireland veterans were yesterday given fresh hope the witch hunt against them could be ended.
The Sun (2017)
There are fears as many as 1,000 ex-servicemen could face charges in the current witch hunt.
The Sun (2017)
But the many being targeted by witch hunts over'war crimes' need help now.
The Sun (2016)
They always saw the witch doctor before they saw me.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is a historical witch hunt on the part of the left.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Is there a witch hazel you love?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
So why the bad press for witches?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The idea of witches casting evil spells is itself fantastical.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The witch doctors were smearing them with paste and shouting spells at them.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He will claim that he is being subjected to a witch hunt.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She thought she could cure herself with witch doctors.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Does she draw a clear parallel between witch doctors and modern medical workers?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
The practice of witchcraft was often blamed for poor weather and there was a witch hunt hysteria at the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Witch hazel in a spray bottle.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's like a panto without a wicked witch.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Witch hazel is an old-fashioned ingredient that is perhaps best known in this regard.
Brumberg, Elaine Take Care of Your Skin (1990)
They've just had a witch hunt for the last few years.
The Sun (2015)
One of her "pretends "was that Emily was a kind of good witch who could protect her.
Frances Hodgson Burnett A Little Princess (1905)
They say too that the housekeeper knows all about it, and is hand and glove with the old witch.
George MacDonald The Princess and the Curdie (1883)
The old witch is dead!
The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales (1812)
I bought my cat off a witch in south London.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
With their reputation for casting evil spells, witches don't get the best press.
The Sun (2012)
Is she a wicked witch or a beloved'alternative' voice?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
As you get older, you're always playing some awful old witch.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Word lists with
witch
Types of fish, tree
In other languages
witch
British English: witch /wɪtʃ/ NOUN
A witch is a woman who is believed to have magic powers, especially evil ones.
American English: witch
Arabic: سَاحِرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: bruxa
Chinese: 巫婆
Croatian: vještica
Czech: čarodějnice
Danish: heks
Dutch: heks
European Spanish: bruja
Finnish: noita
French: sorcière
German: Hexe
Greek: μάγισσα
Italian: strega
Japanese: 魔女
Korean: 마녀
Norwegian: heks
Polish: czarodziejka
European Portuguese: bruxa
Romanian: vrăjitoare
Russian: ведьма
Latin American Spanish: brujo
Swedish: häxa
Thai: แม่มด
Turkish: cadı
Ukrainian: відьма
Vietnamese: mụ phù thủy
All related terms of 'witch'
witch-elm
→ wych-elm
water witch
a person who claims the ability to detect water underground by means of a divining rod
white witch
a witch who uses magic for benevolent purposes or without malicious intent
witch grass
a common , weedy North American grass ( Panicum capillare ) having hairy foliage and a large, dome-shaped panicle of small spikelets
witch hazel
Witch hazel is a liquid that you put on your skin if it is sore or damaged , in order to help it to heal .
witch hunt
A witch-hunt is an attempt to find and punish a particular group of people who are being blamed for something, often simply because of their opinions and not because they have actually done anything wrong .
witch moth
any of several noctuid moths (genus Erebus ) of the S U.S., South America , and the West Indies
witch doctor
A witch doctor is a person in some societies, for example in Africa , who is thought to have magic powers which can be used to heal people.
witch's brew
a potion created by a witch for some magical use
witch of Agnesi
a plane curve , symmetrical about the y- axis , having the equation x 2 y = 4 a 2 (2 a – y )
witchy
A witchy person looks or behaves like a witch. Witchy things are associated with witches.
wych-elm
Eurasian elm tree, Ulmus glabra, having a rounded shape, longish pointed leaves, clusters of small flowers, and winged fruits
fothergilla
any of the deciduous shrub species in the witch-hazel family
wych-hazel
any of several trees and shrubs of the genus Hamamelis , esp H. virginiana, of North America, having ornamental yellow flowers and medicinal properties: family Hamamelidaceae
Chinese translation of 'witch'
witch
(wɪtʃ)
n(c)
女巫 (nǚwū) (个(個), gè)
(noun)
Definition
(in former times) a woman believed to possess evil magic powers
an evil witch who had cast a spell on the prince
Synonyms
enchantress
the Siren, the legendary enchantress who lured travellers to their doom
magician
Uther called on Merlin the magician to help him.
hag
crone
a folk tale about an evil crone
occultist
sorceress
Wiccan
necromancer
a necromancer who conjured up the spirits of the dead
Additional synonyms
in the sense of crone
Definition
a witchlike old woman
a folk tale about an evil crone
Synonyms
old woman,
witch,
hag,
old bag (derogatory, slang),
beldam (archaic),
old bat (derogatory, slang),
gammer (dialect),
kuia (New Zealand)
in the sense of magician
Definition
a person with magic powers
Uther called on Merlin the magician to help him.
Synonyms
sorcerer,
witch,
wizard,
illusionist,
warlock,
necromancer,
thaumaturge (rare),
theurgist,
archimage (rare),
enchanter or enchantress
in the sense of necromancer
a necromancer who conjured up the spirits of the dead