witchcraft

From Middle English wicchecraft, wicchecreft, from Old English wiċċecræft, equivalent to witch +‎ -craft.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈwɪt͡ʃkɹæft/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈwɪt͡ʃkɹɑːft/

witchcraft (usually uncountable, plural witchcrafts)

1. The practice of witches; magic, sorcery, or the use of supernatural powers to influence or predict events.

   Synonyms: witchdom, witchery, witchwork

   Wiccans believe in a modernised form of witchcraft.

   • 1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], “A Day with the Capercailzies”, in H. L. Brækstad, transl., Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 84:

     Such witchcraft has no power now to show itself, because the people don't believe in it any more.

2. Something, such as an advanced technology, that seems almost magical.

   Synonym: wizardry

   • 1987, Air Force Magazine, volume 70, page 88:

     There can be no denying that the more than 100 exhibiting companies and divisions also gave full play to examples of their latest technological witchcraft, as befits the foremost US aerospace event.

• antiwitchcraft
• witchcrafty

witchcraft

1. Alternative form of wicchecraft