Wizards, witches, hags and warlocks

[joym999 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 18807

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Steve Vander Ark" <vderark at b...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., meboriqua at a... wrote:
> > Hello Everyone!
> > 
> > I hope this hasn't been discussed before, but it's bothering me, 
> and 
> > people here write the best explanations of things, so here goes...
> > 
> > I looked up both 'wizard' and 'warlock' and found nearly 
identical 
> > definitions.  
> 
> This is one of those questions I plan to ask JKR if I ever get a 
> chance to interview her. [snip]The term warlock seems to be used 
for a male wizard, with no 
> particular difference between them. However, "a group of rowdy 
> warlocks" is mentioned at one point, suggesting perhaps that they 
are 
> somewhat less civilized wizards. But then, why would Dumbledore be 
> the Chief Warlock, according to the letter he sends to Harry in SS? 
> Unless Warlocks are somewhat outside of "proper" wizarding society, 
> but have their own organizations and Dumbledore is a member of 
them, 
> thereby demonstrating how accepting and accepted he is.
> 

I got the impression that the word "warlock" was used sort of the way 
we use the term "gentleman."  Sort of formal, sort of polite, often 
referring to customers in a retail establishment, but also sort of 
tongue-in-cheek, as in "the group of rowdy gentlemen in the corner."

--Joywitch