witch
witch — noun
1. In stories and traditional folk beliefs, a woman who possesses magic that she ca
In stories and traditional folk beliefs, a woman who possesses magic that she can use to bring good fortune to others or to cause trouble and misfortune.
A witch turned a prince into a frog with a wave of her wand.
verb pattern: witch + turned [person] into [animal]
The villagers thought the woman near the forest was a witch who made healing potions.
relative clause: witch + who + verb
Liang dressed as a witch for the party, with a pointed hat and a broom.
Elena's grandmother claimed a good witch once saved their village from a terrible flood.
In old tales, a witch flies across the night sky on a wooden broomstick.
- sorceress
more formal or literary; often used in epic fantasy novels rather than everyday stories
- wizard
male counterpart, but implies wisdom and formal training in magic rather than innate or folkloric power
- enchantress
emphasises the power to charm or attract through magic, often in romantic contexts
- ordinary person
someone without any magical abilities
常見錯誤
2. An insulting and offensive word for a woman who is seen as mean, unkind, or bad-
An insulting and offensive word for a woman who is seen as mean, unkind, or bad-tempered. Avoid using this word to describe a real person.
Roya called her neighbour a witch after the argument about the barking dog.
disapproving / insulting usage
The children whispered that their neighbour was a witch because she never smiled.
childish insult, not literal
Eric's grandmother scolded him for using the word witch to describe the new teacher.
Sven called the crossing guard a witch and received a week of detention at school.
用法筆記
This sense is offensive and derogatory. It is unrelated to the magical meaning in sense 1. Calling someone 'a witch' in this way can cause deep offence and should be avoided in polite conversation. The label 'informal' here understates the seriousness — this is a sharp insult.
常見錯誤
3. A person who observes a contemporary nature-based spiritual path, like Wicca, an
A person who observes a contemporary nature-based spiritual path, like Wicca, and performs witchcraft as part of their religious practice — often within a group or coven.
Saira has practiced as a witch in the Wiccan tradition for more than twelve years.
religious practice context
The witch led a ceremony in the park to celebrate the spring equinox with songs.
Dahlia joined a group of witches who meet at full moon to share herbal remedies.
Sirin buys candles from a witch who runs a small shop near the square.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 refers to a fictional or folkloric figure, while this sense describes a real person who follows a modern religious or spiritual path. Many contemporary witches do not believe in harmful magic and emphasise nature-based ethics. Respect the term as a self-chosen religious identity.
常見錯誤
witch — verb
1. To use magic on a person, animal, or object, usually to cause harm or misfortune
To use magic on a person, animal, or object, usually to cause harm or misfortune. This verb is rare in modern English and is mostly found in folk tales and historical accounts.
A jealous neighbour witched the farmer's cows until they stopped giving milk.
transitive: witch + [possessive noun] + animal
Tendai believes someone witched his garden, because every plant died within a single week.
The princess was witched by a rival who wanted her throne for herself.
Wren heard a tale about a traveller who witched the mill wheel to stop turning.
- bless
to invoke divine favour instead of magical harm
文法句型
witch + noun phrase
用法筆記
This verb is rare and sounds old-fashioned. It is almost always used in the past tense (witched) or passive voice (was witched). The more common modern expressions are 'to cast a spell on' or 'to bewitch' (bewitch is also used figuratively for attraction).