Standard Lemma guide

witching

adj · noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈwɪt͡ʃɪŋ/
  • CMU ARPABET: W IH1 CH IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of or pertaining to witchcraft or sorcery, or to witches or sorcerers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mystical, sorcerous, witchy, wizardlike, magical, mystic, numinous, sortilegious, thaumaturgic, witching, magicianlike, magicianly, magiciany, weird, witchish, witchlike, witchly, wizardly, wizardy

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of a person: having the power to bewitch someone or something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Bewitching, enchanting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: captivating, charming, delightful, fascinating

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

gerund of witch: an act of witchcraft.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bewitchment, fascination, ensorcellment, bewitching, spellcasting, enchanting, enchantment, incantation, witchery, witching

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

present participle and gerund of witch

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the use or practice of witchcraft

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: practice

History

Etymology

From Middle English wicching, wicchand, equivalent to witch + -ing.

From Middle English wicchinge, from Old English wiċċung (“witching, witchcraft”), equivalent to witch + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: vajákos — of or pertaining to witchcraft or sorcery, or to witches or sorcerers
  • Polish: czarnoksięski — of or pertaining to witchcraft or sorcery, or to witches or sorcerers
  • Polish: magiczny — of or pertaining to witchcraft or sorcery, or to witches or sorcerers
  • Hungarian: vajákos — having the power to bewitch someone or something
  • Polish: czarnoksięski — having the power to bewitch someone or something
  • Polish: magiczny — having the power to bewitch someone or something
  • Hungarian: elbűvölő — bewitching, enchanting
  • Hungarian: elragadó — bewitching, enchanting
  • Hungarian: lenyűgöző — bewitching, enchanting
  • Hungarian: varázslatos — bewitching, enchanting
  • Hungarian: elbájoló — bewitching, enchanting
  • Hungarian: megbabonázó — bewitching, enchanting
  • Polish: czarujący — bewitching, enchanting
  • Hungarian: rontás — act of witchcraft
  • Polish: czary — act of witchcraft