Witcraft
/ˈwɪt.kræft/noun
Cleverness or skill in the use of wit, especially verbal ingenuity.
Did you know?Witcraft combines wit, from an ancient root meaning “to know,” with craft, once meaning practical skill or power—turning intelligence into something made by hand.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weyd-
“To see or know; the ancient root behind wit and wise.”
Old English
Old English
witt
“Knowledge, understanding, intelligence, or mental capacity.”
Old English
Old English
cræft
“Skill, strength, art, or practical ability.”
Middle English
Middle English
wit
“Understanding, intelligence, or clever mental ability.”
Early Modern English
English
wit-craft
“The craft or skill of displaying wit; verbal cleverness.”
Modern English
English
witcraft
“An uncommon or obsolete term for cleverness or ingenuity in language.”