Wizards and witches could you please tell me?

Question

What is the meaning of;
*magic
*magician
*wizard
*witch
*witchcraft
*wizardry
*hag
*warlock
*sorcery
*sorcerer
*sorceress
*spell
*Dark Arts

It would also be helpful if people could give examples of the history of the words.

I hope to use the answers to help my understanding.

Black Aliss; I am dissappointed to see you have copy and pasted the vast majority of your answer from other sources (dictionary.com I believe) instead of writing in your own words and demonstrating what you learnt in your twenty one years of magical study.

It seems that some people are confused, it is clear that I was asking these questions in a magical context so non magical connotations are irrelevent. Also, the Dark Arts did not come from "Harry Potter" yes it is mentioned within the books however the author researched deeply magical practices. Also included are spells, are they fictional as well because they happen to be included in a book with fictious characters? Obviously no.

Some people were under the impression that I knew nothing of magic, that is not so. I only wished to see if there any wizards on here that could give me the definitions.

Black Aliss; I read the answer or obviously I would not have commented on. I clearly say the majority not all of it was copied. Also, magic only has one meaning it is not stage trickery that isn't magic. Surely you know this. Of course non magical people would not do, but I did address the question to them. I merely made the point that I know about magic because in some of the answers there was suggestions about where to learn more. In future I will explain myself more clearly, however thank you for your contributition which generally I think is sound. Also, it was not a waste of time and I would like it if people could remain polite as did not attack anyone, I am no child please so do not make assumptions about me.

Ocean; I do thank you for including words I did not ask to be defined however why do you say "wizard- ace" and include an entry for Wicca? I thought that the question was indicative of magical people and not of religious matters. All the same, thank you for going that bit extra.

Answer 1

Definitions;

magic 1 = the ability to alter events and circumstances using the powers possessed within the individual(s); a neutral force used for many purposes

magician = a person possessing magic within them that practices magic; there are many types of magician such as; a witch, wizard, sorcerer etc.

witch = a female possessing magic within them that practices magic; a male magician

wizard 2 = a male possessing magic with them that practices magic; a male magician

wizard 3 = synonymous with magician; a person possessing magic within them that practices magic; collective term for both male and female magicians

witchcraft = the practice of magic by witches; the art of witches

wizardry = the practice of magic by wizards; the art of wizards

sorcery = the practice of magic by sorcerers; advanced higher level magic

sorcerer = a wizard that is very advanced in magic; an extremely experienced and talented wizard; collective for both wizards and witches of this field

sorceress = a witch that is very advanced in magic; an extremely experienced and talented witch

hag 4 = an old ugly witch; a witch with malicious intent

warlock 5 = a wizened old wizard; a malevolent wizard; an esteemed wizard

spell = set of words said to bring about magical effect; an incantation; formula of words with magical potency

Dark Arts 6 = branch of magic used solely for the purpose of ill will and malevolence; immoral and despicable magic

Etymology

Witch comes from the Old English "wicce" meaning a female magician; female practitioner of magic, the masculine equivalent "wicca" for male magician; male practitioner of magic. Wicce later became "wicche" in the Middle English. Sometime in the Middle Ages wicca went into dissuse and was replaced with wizard. Wizard from the Middle English "wys" meaning wise originally spelt wisard but later changed to wizard. Also combining "zynyste" meaning magic from the root "zinoti" meaning to know. Originally wizard referred solely to male and female magicians resulting in witches and wizards in the Middle Ages being called wiseman and woman. It then replaced wicca as the masculine form of witch.

Witchcraft = "craft" means skill so the skill or art of witches is magic. Wizardry similarly is the skill of wizards and was sometimes called wizardcraft but the "craft" was later replaced by "ry" to mean the same.

1: Magic derives from the Magi, the ancient High Priests of ancient Persia. They were known for their bast knowledge as well as possessing the gifts of prophecy

2 &3: Although wizard is a male magician it is also a general word for anyone that practices magic so is therefore synonymous with magician as well as wizardry being synonymous therefore with magic. Some today wrongly use the term witch to refer to male and female magicians thinking that it is a general term for magic practitioners. This arose approximately fifty years ago however witch only refers to women, it is only wizard that has the dual meaning of being a general word for magical people and specifically referring to men. As is shown above there is evidence to prove that witch is a general term only wizard is.

4: A hag is also a form of tree spirit. (There is more to come, I am having to going through my books on magical creatures to get more detailed information.)

5: Warlock, although in the Oxford dictionary meaning "oath breaker" originally comes from Scottish Gaelic meaning magician or wizard. However it later adopted a negative meaning in English language. Warlock is also a title and refers to both wizards and witches. Essentially there are different types of warlock.

6: The Dark Arts is so called because magic itself is an art however magic used for evil purposes is dark. "Dark" coming from darkness and it'd association with evil. Dark Arts is a magical term and like most magical words it isn't in the mainstream; that is non magical people won't necessarily know it's meaning.

Aside from the Dark Arts there are few divisions in magic. A mainstream term used by some is "black" magic or "white" magic. Magic has no colours and is neutral so is therefore an amalgamation of good and bad or should I say positive and negative. However not all that is bad is necessarily evil. "Black" and "white" magic are not magical terms and come from old connotations that black is evil and white is pure. However, in reality magic is not as easily determined. What is good or bad is dependent on one's point of view. Although one could argue that for the Dark Arts, it is usually more easily determined due to the despicable nature of it. The Dark Arts is also called Dark magic however most choose to use the term Dark Arts as it is not considered true of proper magic at all and rather tips the balance too far. Of course there is morality within magic but it is up to each individual wizard although generally there is consensus on what is and is not acceptable magical practice.

Answer 2

It's all down weather or not you as an individual were lucky enough to be GIFTED with a talent such as magic as to weather or not people believe , It's not like pulling a rabbit from a hat or the illusionist tricks you catch on TV , that's entertainment don't confuse that with real amazing talents that are very unique gifts from God , just because we don't shout it from the rooftops and get a prime time TV show doesn't mean we're not there.... Weather were healers light workers or seekers of another kind I can assure you that such things do exist and we use to try to do good things and help each other and occasionally there will be a BAD/EVIL few who will do and continue to use there gift to gain BAD/EVIL results , It's all a case of seeing is believing really I guess , that's why so many people don't believe it exists And just because YOU Can't see or feel something does that mean it isn't there ? I can't see the wind but it doesn't mean it's not there.

Answer 3

magic - I would say the art of affecting change through non-physical means through the employment of will, which differs slightly from Crowley's definition of "magick", which is the art of affecting change through employment of True Will. Writers have addressed practicing "magia" since at least the renaissance, although such practices originally had distinctly Christian overtones. (See uses by Agrippa, Ficino, Fludd, Dee, Trithemius, etc.)

magician - A person of either gender who works magic, particularly those who identify their practice as ceremonial magic or magia. (Followers of "witchcraft" far less often use the term, although I find it just as applicable for them)

wizard - I know of no one who uses this term and thus associate it with fiction.

witch - A person of either gender who practices witchcraft.

witchcraft - Modern use: A form of magic which tends to draw on folk practices and stresses emotion and involvement over ceremony and precision. Historic use: The practice of malevolent magic (maleficium), later also sometimes associated with Satanic worship.

wizardry - See above comment on wizards.

hag - Derogatory term for an old and/or ugly woman.

warlock - Modern use: oathbreaker. Historic use: a male witch. The Old English root word (waerloga) meant oathbreaker, but I am unsure whether "warlock" ever had this meaning historically.

sorcery - Another term generally used in fiction. It also appears to be the best english translation for what types of magic were forbidden in Exodus, although based on the debates on the issue the nuances don't translate well into English.

sorcerer - A man who practices sorcery

sorceress - A woman who practices sorcery

spell - A magical working, particularly one involved with witchcraft. (Ceremonial magicians tend to use other terms such as "working")

Dark Arts - A concept best left to Harry Potter. It seems roughly comparable to "black magic," which simply means whatever magic is taboo to the culture describing it.

Answer 4

Majic-The art that purports to control or forecast natural events, effects, or forces by invoking the supernatural.

Magician-someone who performs magic tricks to amuse an audience
sorcerer: one who practices magic or sorcery

Wizard-ace: someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
sorcerer: one who practices magic or sorcery
charming: possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers; "charming incantations"; "magic signs that protect against adverse influence"; "a magical spell"; "'tis now the very witching time of night"- Shakespeare; "wizard wands

witch-enchantress: a female sorcerer or magician
a being (usually female) imagined to have special powers derived from the devil
Wiccan: a believer in Wicca
hag: an ugly evil-looking old woman
hex: cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something

witchcraft-Witchcraft, in various historical, anthropological, religious and mythological contexts, is the use of certain kinds of alleged supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft. ...

wizardry-genius exceptional creative ability

hag-an ugly evil-looking old woman
hagfish: eellike cyclostome having a tongue with horny teeth in a round mouth surrounded by eight tentacles; feeds on dead or trapped fishes by boring into their bodies

warlock-a term coined in the Burning Times . It was used to denote a traitor to the Craft, or one who had betrayed the followers of the Old Religion. ...

sorcery-the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world

sorcerer-one who practices magic or sorcery

sorceress-a woman sorcerer

spell-orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of; "How do you spell this word?" "We had to spell out our names for the police officer"
indicate or signify; "I'm afraid this spells trouble!"
enchantment: a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word); "He spelled the word wrong in this letter"
relieve (someone) from work by taking a turn; "She spelled her husband at the wheel"
go: a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else); "it's my go"; "a spell of work"
while: a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition; "he was here for a little while"; "I need to rest for a piece"; "a spell of good weather"; "a patch of bad weather"
place under a spell
a verbal formula believed to have magical force; "he whispered a spell as he moved his hands"; "inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese"
take turns working; "the workers spell every four hours"

DArkarts-The Dark Arts, in the Harry Potter series, are those magical spells and practices mostly used for malicious purposes

Answer 5

i am Wiccan myself and i have asked these Questions before. Almost any witch will say that it depends on your own understanding of the Craft. but go to www.covenspace.com and ask for witches opinions of this.

Answer 6

wikipedia sweets...

Answer 7

magic is the application of will to affect change, or stage magic is prestidgitation and illusion used as a form of entertainment

"magic (n.)
c.1384, "art of influencing events and producing marvels," from O.Fr. magique, from L. magice "sorcery, magic," from Gk. magike (presumably with tekhne "art"), fem. of magikos "magical," from magos "one of the members of the learned and priestly class," from O.Pers. magush, possibly from PIE *magh- "to be able, to have power" (see machine). Displaced O.E. wiccecræft (see witch); also drycræft, from dry "magician," from Ir. drui "priest, magician" (see druid). Transferred sense of "legerdemain, optical illusion, etc." is from 1811. Magic carpet first attested 1909. Magic Marker (1956) is a reg. trademark (U.S.) by Speedry Products, Inc., Richmond Hill, N.Y. Magic lantern "optical instrument whereby a magnified image is thrown upon a wall or screen" is 1696, from Mod.L. laterna magica. "

Some add a "k" to delineate stage magic from will working. This was an addition of Aliester Crowley, and since I am not a Thelemite, I do not add the k. I am sure the meaning I intend to convey is clear from the context.

Magician is a practitioner of magic... assuming the same etymolgy of magic as well

Wizard "c.1440, "philosopher, sage," from M.E. wys "wise" (see wise (adj.)) + -ard. Cf. Lith. zynyste "magic," zynys "sorcerer," zyne "witch," all from zinoti "to know." The ground sense is perhaps "to know the future." The meaning "one with magical power" did not emerge distinctly until c.1550, the distinction between philosophy and magic being blurred in the Middle Ages. As a slang word meaning "excellent" it is recorded from 1922. "

witch "O.E. wicce "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 cooperation to perform supernatural acts," fem. of O.E. wicca "sorcerer, wizard, man who practices witchcraft or magic," from verb wiccian "to practice witchcraft" (cf. Low Ger. wikken, wicken "to use witchcraft," wikker, wicker "soothsayer"). OED says of uncertain origin. Klein suggests connection with O.E. wigle "divination," and wig, wih "idol." Watkins says the nouns represent a P.Gmc. *wikkjaz "necromancer" (one who wakes the dead), from PIE *weg-yo-, from *weg- "to be strong, be lively." That wicce once had a more specific sense than the later general one of "female magician, sorceress" perhaps is suggested by the presence of other words in O.E. describing more specific kinds of magical craft. In the Laws of Ælfred (c.890), witchcraft was specifically singled out as a woman's craft, whose practitioners were not to be suffered to live among the W. Saxons:
"Ða fæmnan þe gewuniað onfon gealdorcræftigan & scinlæcan & wiccan, ne læt þu ða libban."
The other two words combined with it here are gealdricge, a woman who practices "incantations," and scinlæce "female wizard, woman magician," from a root meaning "phantom, evil spirit." Another word that appears in the Anglo-Saxon laws is lyblæca "wizard, sorcerer," but with suggestions of skill in the use of drugs, since the root of the word is lybb "drug, poison, charm." Lybbestre was a fem. word meaning "sorceress," and lybcorn was the name of a certain medicinal seed (perhaps wild saffron). Weekly notes possible connection to Gothic weihs "holy" and Ger. weihan "consecrate," and writes, "the priests of a suppressed religion naturally become magicians to its successors or opponents." In Anglo-Saxon glossaries, wicca renders L. augur (c.1100), and wicce stands for "pythoness, divinatricem." In the "Three Kings of Cologne" (c.1400) wicca translates Magi:
"Þe paynyms ... cleped þe iij kyngis Magos, þat is to seye wicchis."
The glossary translates L. necromantia ("demonum invocatio") with galdre, wiccecræft. The Anglo-Saxon poem called "Men's Crafts" has wiccræft, which appears to be the same word, and by its context means "skill with horses." In a c.1250 translation of "Exodus," witches is used of the Egyptian midwives who save the newborn sons of the Hebrews: "Ðe wicches hidden hem for-ðan, Biforen pharaun nolden he ben." Witch in ref. to a man survived in dialect into 20c., but the fem. form was so dominant by 1601 that men-witches or he-witch began to be used. Extended sense of "young woman or girl of bewitching aspect or manners" is first recorded 1740. Witch doctor is from 1718; applied to African magicians from 1836.
"At this day it is indifferent to say in the English tongue, 'she is a witch,' or 'she is a wise woman.' " [Reginald Scot, "The Discoverie of Witchcraft," 1584] "
witchcraft "witchcraft
O.E. wiccecræft, from wicce (see witch) + cræft "power, skill" (see craft). Witchcraft was first declared a crime in Eng. law in 1542; trials there peaked in 1580s and 1640s but fell sharply after 1660. The last, in 1717, ended in acquittal. The Witchcraft Act was repealed 1736. "

wiz·ard·ry (wĭz'ər-drē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. wiz·ard·ries

The art, skill, or practice of a wizard; sorcery.

A power or effect that appears magical by its capacity to transform: computer wizardry.
Great ability or adroitness in a pursuit: a pianist gifted with technical wizardry.

Hag "c.1225, shortening of O.E. hægtesse "witch, fury" (on assumption that -tesse was a suffix), from P.Gmc. *hagatusjon-, of unknown origin. Similar shortening derived Du. heks, Ger. Hexe "witch" from cognate M.Du. haghetisse, O.H.G. hagzusa. First element is probably cognate with O.E. haga "enclosure" (see hedge). O.N. had tunriða and O.H.G. zunritha, both lit. "hedge-rider," used of witches and ghosts. Or second element may be connected with Norw. tysja "fairy, crippled woman," Gaul. dusius "demon," Lith. dvasia "spirit," from PIE *dhewes- "to fly about, smoke, be scattered, vanish." One of the magic words for which there is no male form, suggesting its original meaning was close to "diviner, soothsayer," which were always female in northern European paganism, and hægtesse seem at one time to have meant "woman of prophetic and oracular powers" (Ælfric uses it to render the Gk. "pythoness," the source of the Delphic oracle), a figure greatly feared and respected. Later, the word was used of village wise women. Haga is also the haw- in hawthorn, which is a central plant in northern European pagan religion. There may be several layers of folk-etymology here. If the hægtesse was once a powerful supernatural woman (in Norse it is an alternate word for Norns, the three weird sisters, the equivalent of the Fates), it may have originally carried the hawthorn sense. Later, when the pagan magic was reduced to local scatterings, it might have had the sense of "hedge-rider," or "she who straddles the hedge," because the hedge was the boundary between the "civilized" world of the village and the wild world beyond. The hægtesse would have a foot in each reality. Even later, when it meant the local healer and root collector, living in the open and moving from village to village, it may have had the mildly pejorative sense of hedge- in M.E. (hedge-priest, etc.), suggesting an itinerant sleeping under bushes, perhaps. The same word could have contained all three senses before being reduced to its modern one. "

Warlock "warlock
O.E. wærloga "traitor, liar, enemy," from wær "faith, a compact" (cf. O.H.G. wara "truth," O.N. varar "solemn promise, vow;" see very; cf. also Varangian) + agent noun related to leogan "to lie" (see lie (v.1)). Original primary sense seems to have been "oath-breaker;" given special application to the devil (c.1000), but also used of giants and cannibals. Meaning "one in league with the devil" is recorded from c.1300. Ending in -ck and meaning "male equivalent of witch" (1568) are from Scottish. "

However there are a few in the heathen community are making an attempt to reclaim the word you can read about it here... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=...
using alternate etymolgies so it is not a derogatory term any longer

Sorcery "sorcery
c.1300, from O.Fr. sorcerie, from sorcier "sorcerer," from V.L. *sortiarius, lit. "one who influences, fate, fortune," from L. sors (gen. sortis) "lot, fate, fortune" (see sort). Sorceress (c.1384) is attested much earlier than sorcerer (1526). "

A Sorcerer is one who is versed in pragmatic magics.

for more in depth information see this website http://www.molochsorcery.com/Index.html


Sorceress would be the female practitoner if you feel the need to delinate between the sexes

Spell is a recipe for a magical application, usually it is composed of a physical component (s) such as a candle, herbs, poppets, etc. A Verbal component such as a poem, a rune, a chant, ect. And an energy component

The verbal component is used as a catalyst to raise the energy component, which is the most important aspect of the spell. Without raising & directing the energy the spell would just be some junk drawer fodder, and spices. The energy empowers the spell to achieve the magic.

The more practice you have in spell work the fewer props or components you will need for sucess. I also recommend you learn the witches pyramid or the Hermetic Quaternary , reada bout it here http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=...

"Dark arts" is pretty much a catch phrase from harry potter fame. Some may interpret it as "bad magic" ie hexes, curses "the whammy", mal ocho or the evil eye etc. but there is a question of ethics within every spell working... even a healing spell could be performed with questionable ethics, such as if the intended recipient of said healing did not offer permission or ask to be healed. that would inadvertanly be working against some elses will, and puts you in the grey area of "questionable ethics. On the other hand what if you daughter was raped, and you invoked cosmic justice on the assailant, or put a spell on his prostate so he could never get an erection again... that is magical attack, but was it justified?


Editied: The portions of my answers that were copied & pasted are clearly quotated and refrenced in the source section below, some are from dictionary .com most are from etymology.com. If you took the time to read the answer you would see that there is my own personal commentary & citations for further study. But I suppose you know it all already, and taking the time to answer your question was clearly a waste of my time! Good day to you child