Wizards, witches, hags and warlocks- Language.

[Ellen & John Anglin]

No: HPFGUIDX 18824

> In a message dated 5/15/2001 8:37:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
> meboriqua at a... writes:

> "Warlock" comes from a word meaning "oath breaker." This was 
usually assigned 
> to Witches or Wizards who broke oaths to expose fellow magic 
practitioners 
> (especially during the European Witch trials and the Inquisition). 
It's also 
> associated with people (usually men) who practice dark magic. 
> 
> Wizard and Witch mean the same thing. In days of old, they were 
gender 
> specific, with Wizard being male and Witch being female. Modern day 
Wiccans 
> refer to themselves as Witches whether they are male or female, 
however. 
> 
> The term "hag" is usually used to describe an old Witch. In Neo 
Pagan 
> worship, it's also a term used for the Crone aspect of the Goddess.
> 
> Toby
> who hopes she's not starting another holy war.....


Um, No holy war here, 

But you really need to do better research before delving into 
Linguistics- and I do not count any of the New age Dreck published By 
Llewelyn Publishing as good research.

The definaitions mentioned above are common misconceptions among 
those who practise new age religions.  Unfortunately, most of the 
books published for modern "Wiccans" are of questionable scholarship. 
Very Questionable scholarship. (I can point out so many obvious 
errors in many popular books- but I'm not about to go into that here- 
It is not the proper place.)

I am no linguist, but I have been told by scholars I trust, that most 
of the definitions and explanations for Witch, Wizard and Warlock 
given commonly in New age publications are open to a LOT of debate.  
Different Languages, Dialects, and poor previous translations from 
other languages have all caused a lot of myth and misconception to 
creep in. (Not to mention skewed meanings caused by repeated 
retranslation.- Kind of like the old game of telephone.)

What is important here, is what JK Rowling means when she says witch, 
wizard or warlock- not what a classical theologan meant, or what one 
of Llwelyn Publishings authors "Channeled".  (And there is no other 
explanation for some of the stuff published!)  

In any case, I sure like the positive spin that the whole Harry 
Potter phenominon has put on all of these words.  Kids today no 
longer think exclusively of the wicked witch of the west, and the 
evil witch in the gingerbread cottage when the word Witch is 
mentioned.  Before Harry the only positive associations most people 
could come up with was Glinda the good witch, and Samantha Stevens 
from "Bewitched".  Witch is definately becoming a more positive word, 
tho there is still a long way to go.

"Wizard" Has had better press all along.  Merlin, Gandalf, The 
Pinball Wizard, and Dungeons and Dragons have all cast positive light 
on the word. Someone can be a wizard with computers, or anything else 
where a certain skill or knowledge is required.  While thre always 
have been evil wizards, they have been balanced quite nicely by good 
examples.

"Warlock" is a much more negative term.  I have heard the original 
meaning came from "poisoner" "Betrayer" or turncoat, but I wouldn't 
begin to pretend that these associations came from the "Burning 
times"  If they are true, they are probably much older.  The original 
term in the bible that was translated into "Thou shalt not suffer a 
witch to live" referred to not suffering a poisoner to live.  The 
roots behind warlock are probably at least as ancient.  It would take 
a more serious scholar than I to say.  

The only vaguely positive use of the term warlock I can think of is 
from the TV series "Bewitched"- can any of you come up with others?

Why don't we play a word association game, and come up with a list of 
images, characters and associations for these words- What do you all 
think of?

Ellen