bewitch, v.
(bɪˈwɪtʃ)
Also 3 biwucch, 4 biwich, bywicch, bewycche, 5–6 by-, bewytch.
[ME. biwicchen, f. bi-, be- 2 + wicchen:—OE. wiccian to enchant, to witch, f. wicca masc., wicce fem., witch. *Bewiccian may have been in OE.]
1. trans. To affect (generally injuriously) by witchcraft or magic. Sometimes with complemental phrase defining the result.
| c 1205 Lay. 24275 Summe bokes suggeð..þat þa burh wes biwucched. c 1315 Shoreham 71 Thaȝ that on bi-wiched be. c 1400 Mandeville xiv. 159 Ȝif ony cursed Wycche..wolde bewycche him. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 149 b, Least he bewitche into stones all the whole ancient race of the Old Testament. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iii. iv. 70 Looke how I am bewitch'd. 1702 Pope Wife of B. 301 He had bewitch'd me to him. 1864 Kingsley Rom. & Teut. i. 2 The Trolls have bewitched him. |
2. fig. To influence in a way similar to witchcraft; to fascinate, charm, enchant. Formerly often in a bad sense; but now generally said of pleasing influences.
| 1526 Tindale Gal. iii. 1 O folisshe Galathyans: who hath bewitched [Wyclif disceyuede] you? 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. ii. 18, I am bewitcht with the rogues company. 1712 Parnell Spect. No. 460 ¶6 The breeze that played about us bewitched the Senses. 1815 Scribbleomania 165 (g) Our author..can never fail of bewitching the reader. 1876 Green Short Hist. vii. §4. 376 There was in Mary ‘some enchantment whereby men are bewitched.’ |