What is a witch?

[MetalMagpie]

I need a bit of casual survey data for an essay.

As simply as you can, give your definition of a witch. I'm not going to add a poll because I don't want to bias results by suggesting options.

In addition, it would be great if you could specify your gender and which of the following age categories you fit into:
a) Younger than 16
b) 16-21
c) 22-30
d) 31-50
e) 51 upwards

All responses very much appreciated.

 

[DEAD34345]

Male, 16-21.

Witch: A female who can perform magic.

I wasn't aware there was any other possible definitions...

 

[ShindoL Shill]

a witch is a person, usually a woman, who has made a deal with the Devil for some sort of gain (murdering someone, getting magic powers, spontaneous infanticide).
or a human with magical powers (possibly due to Satan).
or someone you really don't like, so you call them a witch in 1690s Salem so that God-people kill them for you.

i am male and b)

 

[Furioso]

Male, 16-21

Witch: A female who can perform magic, specifically evil magic in most situations

 

[Deus mortuus est]

Male, 22-24.

1. Female who follows, the Wicca religion.

2. Female who practices witchcraft, a form of magic.

 

[spartan231490]

Male 16-21

Witch, female who can perform magic and brew potions.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Male, 16-21.

Witch: A female who can perform magic.

I wasn't aware there was any other possible definitions...

Some cultures include men as witches, some say that only old women can be witches (the crone/hag type) some say that only young women can be witches (because it's linked to sexuality) some say that it's not actually magic, but that they're sleeping with the devil (or just a devil) and as for what sort of magic they can do, well that's a really long story.

Also, it could just be women who practice neopaganism (or Wicca if you watch far too much Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Anyway

22 in five days male (so tehnically right now I still fit into the 16-21 group but by the time you write your essay probably not)

A witch is one of two things:

In reality: A woman or man of any age, class and creed who was persecuted on the fear that they had had congress with the beast, or else were involved in Black Magic. However, in a lot of cases, actually it was some unliked person in the community who the villagers ganged up on decided that they could get away with killing them or exiling them. Also0, the stereotype of witch burning, although it has a basis in fact, was nowhere near as widespread as people like to think, especially not in Salem (over in Europe it was a little more common, but I know that Americans don't care at all about Europe.)

In fiction: Someone who can do magic, but only when the author decides to actually use the term witch. Most commonly applied to women nowadays.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Male 16-21.

A witch is a female who can cast spells, brew potions and cause stupid European nobles to go out and murder kings for their amusement.[footnote]See 'Macbeth' for more details.[/footnote]

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Nom'd post. Thank you internet.

 

[Thespian]

Male, 16-21 (b)

A female who practices black magic and adheres to at least a few clichés of witchcraft, such as animal familiars, flying brooms, being a part of a coven, potion-brewing, etc.,

 

[Rusman]

A witch is anyone (male or female) who is a practicing Pagan or Wiccan. And by practicing I mean actually does spells and rituals rather than just believing in the theology of the religion.

Male and catagory C. (Self professed Witch)

 

[Rawne1980]

Gender - Male.
Age - D - 31-50

What is a witch .... My mother in law.

Joking aside.

It varies. Witches according to "legends" come in various flavours so to speak. Some thought witches to be mistresses of Satan, working with dark magic and curses. Some thought them to be healers and herbalists.

Then you have the common childs tale type of an old lass with a crooked nose, ugly as sin, usually covered in warts, black cat close by and riding a bloody broomstick.

We have a load of tales about witches around where I live thanks to the tales of the Pendle Witches which were a group of women and men accused of witchcraft and executed. Tales stem from Pendle Hill which is about 10 minutes drive from my house.

My own personal view of witches would probably be one of a herbalist type. Never been one to believe in the whole spell casting and curses but herbs and that kind of thing is believable.

 

[Estocavio]

What? A Witch is someone who Floats when you throw them into a River whilst tied to a Chair.


...Or possibly the Female Version of a Wizard.
Also, Male/B

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

In addition, it would be great if you could specify your gender and which of the following age categories you fit into:

Male, 22-30 (age 23, if you want specifics).

The term witch has 2 definitions to me.

It can be
a) A woman who practices magic or potioncraft. Usually dark/evil magic, but not always. May be pretty or ugly, young or old, it really varies.
b) An especially cruel normal woman (like the old boss my mom worked under).

 

[Lieju]

Female, c) 22-30.

Witch can mean a number of things, be male or female, evil or good, one with real magic powers or just one who has a certain personality, depending on the fictional universe or culture we are talking about.

It's one of those words that changes meaning depending on the context.

 

[gazumped]

Female 16-21

Witch used to merely mean 'wise woman' and was used to refer to a woman who had knowledge of herbs and nature. People would go to her for medicines and other helpful things.

Then Christians came along and went "Women are sinful and not as intelligent as men, if that woman has power to make sick people better it must be magic from the devil. AND ONCE SHE GAINS YOUR TRUST SHE WILL USE IT TO HURT YOU TOO."

And then you know the rest.

 

[Guffe]

I am Male 20 years old.
A witch is a babe who can turn people into mutes and weighs less than a duck!

OT
Well witch gender is female... since sorcerer/wizard is male-witch Ö.o
and she's can use magic of some kind, fireballs or then some sort of healing/curse magic.
she can outlive a normal human, become like 600 years old but she stays like in her 30s till close the end of her life when her apperance also starts to show age.
I believe that's my definition of a witch

 

[JesterRaiin]

m/d
- in the eyes of the world : woman that practices dark magic
- in the eyes of herself (classical witch) : liberated woman that practices dark magic
- in the eyes of herself (modern witch) : liberated woman that practices magic of pagan origin