An Attempt To Date
Witches
G.D.O'Bradovich III
August 14, 2015
We will use the Oxford English Dictionary to understand witches and witchery. Citations after the year 1800 are omitted.
Part the First
Forms:
OE–ME wicce, wycce, ME–15 wicche, ME wichche, ME wychche, ME wycche, ME–15wiche, ME wyche, wech, ME–15 wich, wytche, wych, ME–16 witche, ME–15 weche, (MEwecch, Sc. wesch-, wisch-, ME, 15 which(e, ME whitche, wheche, 15 wytch, Sc. vytche, vyche,weyche), 15– witch.
Etymology: Old English wicce (feminine), corresponding to wicca witch n.1, both of which are apparently derivatives of wiccian witch v.1
a. A female magician, sorceress; in later use esp. a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their co-operation to perform supernatural acts. See also white witch n.
c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints vii. 209
Animað..þa reðan wiccan, Seo þe ðus awent þurh wiccecræft...
a1100 Aldhelm Glosses i. 1926 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 52/1
... wiccan.
c1290 St. Kath. 279 in S. Eng. Leg. 100
Faste ȝe schulle þe wychche binde,..And smitez of hire ...
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 499
Lo here a tale of a wycche, Þat leued no better þan a bycche.
1440 Wyrcester in Wars Eng. in Fr. (Rolls) II. ii. 763
Alia mulier magica, vocata vulgariter Wyche...
?1473 Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 121,
Iuno the false wycche and sorceresse.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Katherine 1088 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 473
[He] gert þis katrine till hyme feite, & sad hir: ‘þu wikide wiche, quhat wenis þu ws lang to preche?’
c1540 Destr. Troy 11182
The worthy, þat wicche hase wastid to dethe.
1568 (▸?a1513) W. Dunbar Poems (1998) 115
Ionet the wedo on a bwsum rydand, Off wytchis with...
a1616 Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. iv. 5
See how the vgly Witch doth bend her browes...
1656 W. Coles Art of Simpling 67
Leaves of Elder..which to disappoint the Charmes of Witches, they ...
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶10
...she is generally turned into a Witch.
1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 200
The witches follow, Wi' mony ...
"Witchcraft" dates from circa the year 1000 and we speculate that "witch" and "bitch" rhymed in 1303.
Forms:
OE wiccian, ME wicc(h)e, (ME witche, Sc. weche, ME wiche, wyche, ME wyc(c)hyn,wysshyn), ME–15 wytche, 15– witch.
Etymology:
Old English wiccian, corresponding to Middle German, Low German wikken, wicken, of obscure origin. In the senses arising in Middle English and later probably aphetic < bewitch.
†1. intr. To practise witchcraft; to use sorcery or enchantment.Obs.
c1000 Confess. Ecgberti xviii, in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 208
Gif hwa wiccige ymbe æniges mannes lufe.
a1300 Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter lvii[i]. 5
A neddre def..Þat noght sal here þe steuen of wicchand.
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 2539
Were þei boþe here, þei schuld wicche wel ȝif þei a-wei went.
1623 T. Scott Projector 30
Hath not Iesabell painted, and whored, and plotted, and witched, ...
2 a. trans. To affect (a person) with witchcraft or sorcery; to put a spell upon; = bewitch v. 1.
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 4427
... ne schuld he with wicchecraft be wicched neuer-more.
a1400 Evang. Nicod. 216 in Herrig Archiv 53 395
Wyched þi wyf has he.
c1400 Rowland & Otuel 1151
Foully there thou wichede was.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Andrew 64 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 65
Þane þat ȝong manis kyne in hy sad, he was wechyt, sekyrly!
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. II. ccxx. [ccxvi.] 282 b/1
...hadde witched the kynge.
1596 in Spalding Club Misc. I. 87
His wyiff was witchit be his narrest nychtbour.
1605 London Prodigall i. ii. 63,
I thinke I am sure crossed, or witcht with an owle.
1647 J. March Actions for Slaunder 15
Thou art a Witch..and diddest procure Mother Bale to witch the Cattell of I. S.
b. (with prep. or adv.) To bring, draw, put, or change by witchcraft.
1597 King James VI & I Daemonologie ii. i. 28
If Witches had such power of Witching of folkes to death ...
1608 G. Chapman Conspiracie Duke of Byron iv. i. O 2,
O that in mine eyes Were all the Sorcerous poyson of my woes, That I might witch ye headlong from your height.
1693 I. Mather Cases Conscience 26
See if you can Witch them into a Fit,..and..Witch them well again.
3 a. fig. To influence as by witchcraft; to enchant, charm; =bewitch v. 2. Also with prep. or adv.
1590 Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vii. sig. S2v,
Thy..pleasing charmes, With which weake men thou witchest, to attend.
1592 R. Greene Groats-worth of Witte sig. Cv,
[Loue] Witching chast eares with trothles tungs of men.
1598 Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. i. 111
As if an Angel drop down from the clouds, To..witch the world with noble horsemanship.
1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher King & No King iii. sig. F2v,
With her eyes Shee witches people.
Etymology:
Old English wiccecræft , < wicca, wicce witch n.1, witch n.2 + cræft craft n.
1 a. The practices of a witch or witches; the exercise of supernatural power supposed to be possessed by persons in league with the devil or evil spirits.
c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints vii. 209
Animað..þa reðan wiccan, Seo þe ðus awent þurh wiccecræft ...
a1100 Aldhelm Glosses i. 4055 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 107/2
Necromantia, .i. demonum inuocatio, galdre, wiccecræfte.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 1301
Þu yelpest of selliche wisdome; Þu nustest hwenne hit þe come Bute hit of wicchecrafte were.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 28310,
I..folud wichecrafte and frete, And charmyng.
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 4044
His wif with wichecraft to a wolf him schaped.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 563
Whiche sacramentis and her vsis summe of the lay peple holden to be pointis of wicche craft and blindingis.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Clement 705 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 393
He..wend [þat] he begabbit had bene be wesch-crafte.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay (S.T.S.) 12
... this [first] command quhilk wsis wich craft.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. ii. 7
As for Witches, I think not that their witchcraft is any reall power.
1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ i. xxv. 51
The Sickness is more than natural, and Witchcraft is to be feared.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶2,
... as that which we express by the Name of Witch-craft.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. iv. 60
To deny the possibility, nay, actual existence, of witchcraft and sorcery, is..to contradict the revealed word of God.
b. pl. Acts or instances of this; magic arts; also †occas. witha, a kind of magic.
c935 Laws of Athelstan i. vi,
We cwædon be þam wiccecræftum & be liblacum [etc.].
?c1200 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7077
Driȝmenn. weppmenn & wifmenn ec Þatt follȝhenn wicche crafftess.
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 196
Hit bringeð to naut. al þes deofles wiȝeles..hise wrenhfule wichecreftes.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xviii.lx,
Wicches also vse þe herte and þee lyuoure of þis beeste in many wicchecraftes.
c1475 (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 93
Wit þer wichecraftis and enchauntingis.
a1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (?1510)
D iv b, Us thou hast now forsakyn And to a wychcrafte the takyn.
1569 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 43
Scho will confess no wytchcreftis nor gilt.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 45
All these witchcrafts ceased after the comming of Christ.
1670 R. T. Opinion Witchcraft Vindicated 43
Killing of Men or Beasts by Witchcrafts.
1767 T. Hutchinson Hist. Province Massachusets-Bay, 1691–1750 i. 49
Commissioners..were appointed for the trial of witchcrafts.
2. fig. Power or influence like that of a magician; bewitching or fascinating attraction or charm.
a1616 Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. ii. 274
You haue witchcraft In your kisses.
1623 Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 18
He hath a Witchcraft Ouer the King in's Tongue.
1647 A. Cowley Vain Love in Mistress 1
What new-found Witchcraft was in thee, With thine own Cold to kindle Me?
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. x. 58
Whether the raising this Spirit [of the Levellers] was a piece of Cromwell's ordinary witchcraft, in order to some of his designs, or whether [etc.].
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. viii. 47,
I tell you, I see thro' your witchcrafts.—That was her strange word.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομια 265
His Blindnesse and Infidelity betrayeth him to this Stupidity, and Witchcraft-adhæsion to the Creature.
1796 G. M. Woodward Eccentric Excurs. 135
Among the most approved witchcraft remedies, we find nailing horse-shoes at the thresholds of doors.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 877/1
The latest witchcraft frenzy was in New England, about 1692.
Part the Second
Etymology:
< witch n.2 or witch v.1 + -ery suffix.
1a. The use or practice of witchcraft.
1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes i. f. 35v,
Besydes the art Magyck, Sortilege..Geomancye, and witcherye, that was taught there also.
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft iii. x. 57
She sawe not anie one carrieng a faggot to the fier, but she would saie it was to make a fier to burne hir for witcherie.
a1637 B. Jonson Sad Shepherd ii. vi. 60 in Wks. (1640) III
Cla. What Devills Pater noster mumbles shee? Alk. Stay, you will heare more of her witcherie.
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. i. 33
There is a manifest difference between Magick, which is Wisdom and supernatural Knowledge, and the Witchery and Conjuring by which we now understand the Word.
attrib.
1627 R. Bernard Guide Grand-iury Men 19
The parents..sent for a wise woman, who played her witchery trickes.
1650 A. B. Mutatus Polemo 12
Like the blacke Prince of the ayre in his witchery Apparitions.
b. pl. Deeds of witchcraft.
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Hechizos,
Witcheries, witch~craft.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage vii. vii. 575
The Heathens in those parts are giuen to Auguries and Witcheries.
1637 Milton Comus 523 Great Comus,
Deep skill'd in all his mothers witcheries.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 494
As dark as witch'ries of the night.
2 a. fig. Charming or fascinating power or influence.
1582 G. Harvey Marginalia (1913) 191
Ye sweet bayte, & lure of curtesy: The cunningist and most intellectual witchery of all other.
a1677 I. Barrow Serm. in Wks. (1686) III. 194
If we can disengage our selves from the witcheries of present allurement.
1798 Wordsworth Peter Bell i. 265
He never felt The witchery of the soft blue sky!.
b. jocular. A body of bewitching women.
1777 T. Twining in Recreat. & Stud. (1882) 54
Remember me to Mrs. B. and the whole witchery.
Part the Third
The citations in chronological order.
935c Laws of Athelstan i. vi, We cwædon be þam wiccecræftum & be liblacum [etc.].
1000c Ælfric Lives Saints vii. 209 Animað..þa reðan wiccan, Seo þe ðus awent þurh wiccecræft ...
1000c Confess. Ecgberti xviii, in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 208 Gif hwa wiccige ymbe ...
1100a Aldhelm Glosses i. 1926 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 52/1 ... wiccan.
1100a Aldhelm Glosses i. 4055 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 107/2 ... wiccecræfte.
1200?c Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7077 ... wicche crafftess.
1225?c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 196 ...hise wrenhfule wichecreftes.
1250a Owl & Nightingale 1301 ... Þu nustest hwenne hit þe come Bute hit of wicchecrafte were.
1290c St. Kath. 279 in S. Eng. Leg. 100 Faste ȝe schulle þe wychche binde,...
1300a Cursor Mundi 28310, I..folud wichecrafte and frete, And charmyng.
1300a Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter lvii[i]. 5 A neddre def..Þat noght sal here þe steuen of wicchand.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 499 Lo here a tale of a wycche, Þat leued no better þan a bycche.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 2539 Were þei boþe here, þei schuld wicche wel ȝif þei a-wei went.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 4044 His wif with wichecraft to a wolf him schaped.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 4427 Þat neuer man vpon mold miȝt it [sc. the ring] him on haue, ne schuld he with wicchecraft be wicched neuer-more.
1398 Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xviii.lx, Wicches ... many wicchecraftes.
1400a Evang. Nicod. 216 in Herrig Archiv 53 395 Wyched þi wyf has he.
1400c Rowland & Otuel 1151 Foully there thou wichede was.
1440 Wyrcester in Wars Eng. in Fr. (Rolls) II. ii. 763 Alia mulier magica, vocata vulgariter Wyche ...
1449c R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 563 ... to be pointis of wicche craft and blindingis.
1473? Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 121, Iuno the false wycche and sorceresse.
1475c (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 93 Wit þer wichecraftis and enchauntingis.
1480c (▸a1400) W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 65 ...he was wechyt, sekyrly!
1480c (▸a1400) W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 393 ... bene be wesch-crafte.
1480c (▸a1400) W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 473 ... wikide wiche, quhat wenis ...
1500a Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (?1510) D iv b,... a wychcrafte the takyn.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. II. ccxx. [ccxvi.] 282 b/1 ... hadde witched the kynge.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay (S.T.S.) 12 ... this [first] command quhilk wsis wich craft.
1540c Destr. Troy 11182 The worthy, þat wicche hase wastid to dethe.
1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes i. f. 35v, Besydes the art Magyck, Sortilege..Geomancye, and witcherye...
1568 (▸?a1513) W. Dunbar Poems (1998) 115 Ionet the wedo on a bwsum rydand, Off wytchis with ...
1569 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 43 Scho will confess no wytchcreftis nor gilt.
1582 G. Harvey Marginalia (1913) 191 ...The cunningist and most intellectual witchery of all other.
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft iii. x. 57 ... it was to make a fier to burne hir for witcherie.
1590 Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vii. sig. S2v,...With which weake men thou witchest, to attend.
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Hechizos, Witcheries, witch~craft.
1592 R. Greene Groats-worth of Witte sig. Cv, [Loue] Witching chast eares with trothles tungs of men.
1596 in Spalding Club Misc. I. 87 His wyiff was witchit be his narrest nychtbour.
1597 King James VI & I Daemonologie ii. i. 28 If Witches had such power of Witching of folkes to death ..
1598 Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. i. 111 ... To..witch the world with noble horsemanship.
1601 Strange Rep. Sixe Notorious Witches B ij, Men-Witches.
1605 London Prodigall i. ii. 63, I thinke I am sure crossed, or witcht with an owle.
1608 G. Chapman Conspiracie Duke of Byron iv. i. O 2, ...That I might witch ye headlong from your height.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage vii. vii. 575 The Heathens in those parts are giuen to Auguries and Witcheries.
1616a Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. ii. 274 You haue witchcraft In your kisses.
1616a Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. iv. 5 See how the vgly Witch doth bend her browes...
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 45 All these witchcrafts ceased after the comming of Christ.
1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher King & No King iii. sig. F2v, With her eyes Shee witches people.
1623 Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 18 He hath a Witchcraft Ouer the King in's Tongue.
1623 T. Scott Projector 30 Hath not Iesabell painted, and whored, and plotted, and witched, ...
1627 R. Bernard Guide Grand-iury Men 19 ..sent for a wise woman, who played her witchery trickes.
1637 Milton Comus 523 Great Comus, Deep skill'd in all his mothers witcheries.
1637a B. Jonson Sad Shepherd ii. vi. 60 in Wks. (1640) III Cla. What Devills Pater noster mumbles shee? Alk. Stay, you will heare more of her witcherie.
1647 A. Cowley Vain Love in Mistress 1 What new-found Witchcraft was in thee, With thine own...
1647 J. March Actions for Slaunder 15 Thou art a Witch..and diddest procure Mother Bale to witch ...
1650 A. B. Mutatus Polemo 12 Like the blacke Prince of the ayre in his witchery Apparitions.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. ii. 7 As for Witches, I think not that their witchcraft is any reall power.
1653 T. Gataker Vindic. Annot. Jer. 10.2 108 ... but a meer Magitian, in plain English, an He-witch.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομια 265 ... him to this Stupidity, and Witchcraft-adhæsion to the Creature.
1656 W. Coles Art of Simpling 67 Leaves of Elder..which to disappoint the Charmes of Witches, ...
1670 R. T. Opinion Witchcraft Vindicated 43 Killing of Men or Beasts by Witchcrafts.
1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ i. xxv. 51 The Sickness is more than natural, and Witchcraft is to ...
1677a I. Barrow Serm. in Wks. (1686) III. 194 If we can disengage our selves from the witcheries ...
1693 I. Mather Cases Conscience 26 See if you can Witch them into a Fit,..and..Witch them well again.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. x. 58...ordinary witchcraft, in order to some of his designs,..
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶10 ... she is generally turned into a Witch.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶2, ... as that which we express by the Name of Witch-craft.
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. i. 33 ... and the Witchery and Conjuring by which we now understand ...
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. viii. 47, I tell you, I see thro' your witchcrafts.—That was her strange word.
1767 T. Hutchinson Hist. Province Massachusets-Bay, 1691–1750 i. 49 ... the trial of witchcrafts.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. iv. 60 To deny the possibility...of witchcraft and sorcery, is...
1777 T. Twining in Recreat. & Stud. (1882) 54 Remember me to Mrs. B. and the whole witchery.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 494 As dark as witch'ries of the night.
1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 200 The witches follow, Wi' mony an...
1796 G. M. Woodward Eccentric Excurs. 135 Among the most approved witchcraft remedies, ...
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 877/1 The latest witchcraft frenzy was in New England, about 1692.
1798 Wordsworth Peter Bell i. 265 He never felt The witchery of the soft blue sky!
Part the First
Forms:
OE–ME wicce, wycce, ME–15 wicche, ME wichche, ME wychche, ME wycche, ME–15wiche, ME wyche, wech, ME–15 wich, wytche, wych, ME–16 witche, ME–15 weche, (MEwecch, Sc. wesch-, wisch-, ME, 15 which(e, ME whitche, wheche, 15 wytch, Sc. vytche, vyche,weyche), 15– witch.
Etymology: Old English wicce (feminine), corresponding to wicca witch n.1, both of which are apparently derivatives of wiccian witch v.1
a. A female magician, sorceress; in later use esp. a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their co-operation to perform supernatural acts. See also white witch n.
c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints vii. 209
Animað..þa reðan wiccan, Seo þe ðus awent þurh wiccecræft...
a1100 Aldhelm Glosses i. 1926 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 52/1
... wiccan.
c1290 St. Kath. 279 in S. Eng. Leg. 100
Faste ȝe schulle þe wychche binde,..And smitez of hire ...
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 499
Lo here a tale of a wycche, Þat leued no better þan a bycche.
1440 Wyrcester in Wars Eng. in Fr. (Rolls) II. ii. 763
Alia mulier magica, vocata vulgariter Wyche...
?1473 Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 121,
Iuno the false wycche and sorceresse.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Katherine 1088 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 473
[He] gert þis katrine till hyme feite, & sad hir: ‘þu wikide wiche, quhat wenis þu ws lang to preche?’
c1540 Destr. Troy 11182
The worthy, þat wicche hase wastid to dethe.
1568 (▸?a1513) W. Dunbar Poems (1998) 115
Ionet the wedo on a bwsum rydand, Off wytchis with...
a1616 Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. iv. 5
See how the vgly Witch doth bend her browes...
1656 W. Coles Art of Simpling 67
Leaves of Elder..which to disappoint the Charmes of Witches, they ...
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶10
...she is generally turned into a Witch.
1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 200
The witches follow, Wi' mony ...
"Witchcraft" dates from circa the year 1000 and we speculate that "witch" and "bitch" rhymed in 1303.
Forms:
OE wiccian, ME wicc(h)e, (ME witche, Sc. weche, ME wiche, wyche, ME wyc(c)hyn,wysshyn), ME–15 wytche, 15– witch.
Etymology:
Old English wiccian, corresponding to Middle German, Low German wikken, wicken, of obscure origin. In the senses arising in Middle English and later probably aphetic < bewitch.
†1. intr. To practise witchcraft; to use sorcery or enchantment.Obs.
c1000 Confess. Ecgberti xviii, in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 208
Gif hwa wiccige ymbe æniges mannes lufe.
a1300 Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter lvii[i]. 5
A neddre def..Þat noght sal here þe steuen of wicchand.
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 2539
Were þei boþe here, þei schuld wicche wel ȝif þei a-wei went.
1623 T. Scott Projector 30
Hath not Iesabell painted, and whored, and plotted, and witched, ...
2 a. trans. To affect (a person) with witchcraft or sorcery; to put a spell upon; = bewitch v. 1.
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 4427
... ne schuld he with wicchecraft be wicched neuer-more.
a1400 Evang. Nicod. 216 in Herrig Archiv 53 395
Wyched þi wyf has he.
c1400 Rowland & Otuel 1151
Foully there thou wichede was.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Andrew 64 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 65
Þane þat ȝong manis kyne in hy sad, he was wechyt, sekyrly!
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. II. ccxx. [ccxvi.] 282 b/1
...hadde witched the kynge.
1596 in Spalding Club Misc. I. 87
His wyiff was witchit be his narrest nychtbour.
1605 London Prodigall i. ii. 63,
I thinke I am sure crossed, or witcht with an owle.
1647 J. March Actions for Slaunder 15
Thou art a Witch..and diddest procure Mother Bale to witch the Cattell of I. S.
b. (with prep. or adv.) To bring, draw, put, or change by witchcraft.
1597 King James VI & I Daemonologie ii. i. 28
If Witches had such power of Witching of folkes to death ...
1608 G. Chapman Conspiracie Duke of Byron iv. i. O 2,
O that in mine eyes Were all the Sorcerous poyson of my woes, That I might witch ye headlong from your height.
1693 I. Mather Cases Conscience 26
See if you can Witch them into a Fit,..and..Witch them well again.
3 a. fig. To influence as by witchcraft; to enchant, charm; =bewitch v. 2. Also with prep. or adv.
1590 Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vii. sig. S2v,
Thy..pleasing charmes, With which weake men thou witchest, to attend.
1592 R. Greene Groats-worth of Witte sig. Cv,
[Loue] Witching chast eares with trothles tungs of men.
1598 Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. i. 111
As if an Angel drop down from the clouds, To..witch the world with noble horsemanship.
1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher King & No King iii. sig. F2v,
With her eyes Shee witches people.
Etymology:
Old English wiccecræft , < wicca, wicce witch n.1, witch n.2 + cræft craft n.
1 a. The practices of a witch or witches; the exercise of supernatural power supposed to be possessed by persons in league with the devil or evil spirits.
c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints vii. 209
Animað..þa reðan wiccan, Seo þe ðus awent þurh wiccecræft ...
a1100 Aldhelm Glosses i. 4055 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 107/2
Necromantia, .i. demonum inuocatio, galdre, wiccecræfte.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 1301
Þu yelpest of selliche wisdome; Þu nustest hwenne hit þe come Bute hit of wicchecrafte were.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 28310,
I..folud wichecrafte and frete, And charmyng.
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 4044
His wif with wichecraft to a wolf him schaped.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 563
Whiche sacramentis and her vsis summe of the lay peple holden to be pointis of wicche craft and blindingis.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Clement 705 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 393
He..wend [þat] he begabbit had bene be wesch-crafte.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay (S.T.S.) 12
... this [first] command quhilk wsis wich craft.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. ii. 7
As for Witches, I think not that their witchcraft is any reall power.
1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ i. xxv. 51
The Sickness is more than natural, and Witchcraft is to be feared.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶2,
... as that which we express by the Name of Witch-craft.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. iv. 60
To deny the possibility, nay, actual existence, of witchcraft and sorcery, is..to contradict the revealed word of God.
b. pl. Acts or instances of this; magic arts; also †occas. witha, a kind of magic.
c935 Laws of Athelstan i. vi,
We cwædon be þam wiccecræftum & be liblacum [etc.].
?c1200 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7077
Driȝmenn. weppmenn & wifmenn ec Þatt follȝhenn wicche crafftess.
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 196
Hit bringeð to naut. al þes deofles wiȝeles..hise wrenhfule wichecreftes.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xviii.lx,
Wicches also vse þe herte and þee lyuoure of þis beeste in many wicchecraftes.
c1475 (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 93
Wit þer wichecraftis and enchauntingis.
a1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (?1510)
D iv b, Us thou hast now forsakyn And to a wychcrafte the takyn.
1569 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 43
Scho will confess no wytchcreftis nor gilt.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 45
All these witchcrafts ceased after the comming of Christ.
1670 R. T. Opinion Witchcraft Vindicated 43
Killing of Men or Beasts by Witchcrafts.
1767 T. Hutchinson Hist. Province Massachusets-Bay, 1691–1750 i. 49
Commissioners..were appointed for the trial of witchcrafts.
2. fig. Power or influence like that of a magician; bewitching or fascinating attraction or charm.
a1616 Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. ii. 274
You haue witchcraft In your kisses.
1623 Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 18
He hath a Witchcraft Ouer the King in's Tongue.
1647 A. Cowley Vain Love in Mistress 1
What new-found Witchcraft was in thee, With thine own Cold to kindle Me?
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. x. 58
Whether the raising this Spirit [of the Levellers] was a piece of Cromwell's ordinary witchcraft, in order to some of his designs, or whether [etc.].
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. viii. 47,
I tell you, I see thro' your witchcrafts.—That was her strange word.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομια 265
His Blindnesse and Infidelity betrayeth him to this Stupidity, and Witchcraft-adhæsion to the Creature.
1796 G. M. Woodward Eccentric Excurs. 135
Among the most approved witchcraft remedies, we find nailing horse-shoes at the thresholds of doors.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 877/1
The latest witchcraft frenzy was in New England, about 1692.
Part the Second
Etymology:
< witch n.2 or witch v.1 + -ery suffix.
1a. The use or practice of witchcraft.
1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes i. f. 35v,
Besydes the art Magyck, Sortilege..Geomancye, and witcherye, that was taught there also.
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft iii. x. 57
She sawe not anie one carrieng a faggot to the fier, but she would saie it was to make a fier to burne hir for witcherie.
a1637 B. Jonson Sad Shepherd ii. vi. 60 in Wks. (1640) III
Cla. What Devills Pater noster mumbles shee? Alk. Stay, you will heare more of her witcherie.
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. i. 33
There is a manifest difference between Magick, which is Wisdom and supernatural Knowledge, and the Witchery and Conjuring by which we now understand the Word.
attrib.
1627 R. Bernard Guide Grand-iury Men 19
The parents..sent for a wise woman, who played her witchery trickes.
1650 A. B. Mutatus Polemo 12
Like the blacke Prince of the ayre in his witchery Apparitions.
b. pl. Deeds of witchcraft.
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Hechizos,
Witcheries, witch~craft.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage vii. vii. 575
The Heathens in those parts are giuen to Auguries and Witcheries.
1637 Milton Comus 523 Great Comus,
Deep skill'd in all his mothers witcheries.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 494
As dark as witch'ries of the night.
2 a. fig. Charming or fascinating power or influence.
1582 G. Harvey Marginalia (1913) 191
Ye sweet bayte, & lure of curtesy: The cunningist and most intellectual witchery of all other.
a1677 I. Barrow Serm. in Wks. (1686) III. 194
If we can disengage our selves from the witcheries of present allurement.
1798 Wordsworth Peter Bell i. 265
He never felt The witchery of the soft blue sky!.
b. jocular. A body of bewitching women.
1777 T. Twining in Recreat. & Stud. (1882) 54
Remember me to Mrs. B. and the whole witchery.
Part the Third
The citations in chronological order.
935c Laws of Athelstan i. vi, We cwædon be þam wiccecræftum & be liblacum [etc.].
1000c Ælfric Lives Saints vii. 209 Animað..þa reðan wiccan, Seo þe ðus awent þurh wiccecræft ...
1000c Confess. Ecgberti xviii, in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 208 Gif hwa wiccige ymbe ...
1100a Aldhelm Glosses i. 1926 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 52/1 ... wiccan.
1100a Aldhelm Glosses i. 4055 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 107/2 ... wiccecræfte.
1200?c Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7077 ... wicche crafftess.
1225?c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 196 ...hise wrenhfule wichecreftes.
1250a Owl & Nightingale 1301 ... Þu nustest hwenne hit þe come Bute hit of wicchecrafte were.
1290c St. Kath. 279 in S. Eng. Leg. 100 Faste ȝe schulle þe wychche binde,...
1300a Cursor Mundi 28310, I..folud wichecrafte and frete, And charmyng.
1300a Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter lvii[i]. 5 A neddre def..Þat noght sal here þe steuen of wicchand.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 499 Lo here a tale of a wycche, Þat leued no better þan a bycche.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 2539 Were þei boþe here, þei schuld wicche wel ȝif þei a-wei went.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 4044 His wif with wichecraft to a wolf him schaped.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 4427 Þat neuer man vpon mold miȝt it [sc. the ring] him on haue, ne schuld he with wicchecraft be wicched neuer-more.
1398 Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xviii.lx, Wicches ... many wicchecraftes.
1400a Evang. Nicod. 216 in Herrig Archiv 53 395 Wyched þi wyf has he.
1400c Rowland & Otuel 1151 Foully there thou wichede was.
1440 Wyrcester in Wars Eng. in Fr. (Rolls) II. ii. 763 Alia mulier magica, vocata vulgariter Wyche ...
1449c R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 563 ... to be pointis of wicche craft and blindingis.
1473? Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 121, Iuno the false wycche and sorceresse.
1475c (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 93 Wit þer wichecraftis and enchauntingis.
1480c (▸a1400) W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 65 ...he was wechyt, sekyrly!
1480c (▸a1400) W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 393 ... bene be wesch-crafte.
1480c (▸a1400) W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 473 ... wikide wiche, quhat wenis ...
1500a Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (?1510) D iv b,... a wychcrafte the takyn.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. II. ccxx. [ccxvi.] 282 b/1 ... hadde witched the kynge.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay (S.T.S.) 12 ... this [first] command quhilk wsis wich craft.
1540c Destr. Troy 11182 The worthy, þat wicche hase wastid to dethe.
1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes i. f. 35v, Besydes the art Magyck, Sortilege..Geomancye, and witcherye...
1568 (▸?a1513) W. Dunbar Poems (1998) 115 Ionet the wedo on a bwsum rydand, Off wytchis with ...
1569 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 43 Scho will confess no wytchcreftis nor gilt.
1582 G. Harvey Marginalia (1913) 191 ...The cunningist and most intellectual witchery of all other.
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft iii. x. 57 ... it was to make a fier to burne hir for witcherie.
1590 Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vii. sig. S2v,...With which weake men thou witchest, to attend.
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Hechizos, Witcheries, witch~craft.
1592 R. Greene Groats-worth of Witte sig. Cv, [Loue] Witching chast eares with trothles tungs of men.
1596 in Spalding Club Misc. I. 87 His wyiff was witchit be his narrest nychtbour.
1597 King James VI & I Daemonologie ii. i. 28 If Witches had such power of Witching of folkes to death ..
1598 Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. i. 111 ... To..witch the world with noble horsemanship.
1601 Strange Rep. Sixe Notorious Witches B ij, Men-Witches.
1605 London Prodigall i. ii. 63, I thinke I am sure crossed, or witcht with an owle.
1608 G. Chapman Conspiracie Duke of Byron iv. i. O 2, ...That I might witch ye headlong from your height.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage vii. vii. 575 The Heathens in those parts are giuen to Auguries and Witcheries.
1616a Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. ii. 274 You haue witchcraft In your kisses.
1616a Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. iv. 5 See how the vgly Witch doth bend her browes...
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 45 All these witchcrafts ceased after the comming of Christ.
1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher King & No King iii. sig. F2v, With her eyes Shee witches people.
1623 Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 18 He hath a Witchcraft Ouer the King in's Tongue.
1623 T. Scott Projector 30 Hath not Iesabell painted, and whored, and plotted, and witched, ...
1627 R. Bernard Guide Grand-iury Men 19 ..sent for a wise woman, who played her witchery trickes.
1637 Milton Comus 523 Great Comus, Deep skill'd in all his mothers witcheries.
1637a B. Jonson Sad Shepherd ii. vi. 60 in Wks. (1640) III Cla. What Devills Pater noster mumbles shee? Alk. Stay, you will heare more of her witcherie.
1647 A. Cowley Vain Love in Mistress 1 What new-found Witchcraft was in thee, With thine own...
1647 J. March Actions for Slaunder 15 Thou art a Witch..and diddest procure Mother Bale to witch ...
1650 A. B. Mutatus Polemo 12 Like the blacke Prince of the ayre in his witchery Apparitions.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. ii. 7 As for Witches, I think not that their witchcraft is any reall power.
1653 T. Gataker Vindic. Annot. Jer. 10.2 108 ... but a meer Magitian, in plain English, an He-witch.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομια 265 ... him to this Stupidity, and Witchcraft-adhæsion to the Creature.
1656 W. Coles Art of Simpling 67 Leaves of Elder..which to disappoint the Charmes of Witches, ...
1670 R. T. Opinion Witchcraft Vindicated 43 Killing of Men or Beasts by Witchcrafts.
1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ i. xxv. 51 The Sickness is more than natural, and Witchcraft is to ...
1677a I. Barrow Serm. in Wks. (1686) III. 194 If we can disengage our selves from the witcheries ...
1693 I. Mather Cases Conscience 26 See if you can Witch them into a Fit,..and..Witch them well again.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. x. 58...ordinary witchcraft, in order to some of his designs,..
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶10 ... she is generally turned into a Witch.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶2, ... as that which we express by the Name of Witch-craft.
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. i. 33 ... and the Witchery and Conjuring by which we now understand ...
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. viii. 47, I tell you, I see thro' your witchcrafts.—That was her strange word.
1767 T. Hutchinson Hist. Province Massachusets-Bay, 1691–1750 i. 49 ... the trial of witchcrafts.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. iv. 60 To deny the possibility...of witchcraft and sorcery, is...
1777 T. Twining in Recreat. & Stud. (1882) 54 Remember me to Mrs. B. and the whole witchery.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 494 As dark as witch'ries of the night.
1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 200 The witches follow, Wi' mony an...
1796 G. M. Woodward Eccentric Excurs. 135 Among the most approved witchcraft remedies, ...
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 877/1 The latest witchcraft frenzy was in New England, about 1692.
1798 Wordsworth Peter Bell i. 265 He never felt The witchery of the soft blue sky!