Warlock/Wizard - was Asking JKR just one question

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 119424


> Valky wrote:
> > The word Warlock is said to be derived from Old English for Oath
> > Breaker. Many who know this have contention with it's use as a
> > synonym for Wizard or Sorcerer. It means traitor.
> > Perhaps Warlock in JKR's WW is the equivalent of Punk, Rebel or
some like social distinction.

> Carol responds:
> What about Perkins, the old warlock who shares an office with Mr.
> Weasley? He doesn't seem to be a rebel or a derelict. (If "warlock"
> meant "derelict," surely it would be applied to Mundungus
Fletcher?)


Valky:
Does your OOTP call Perkins a Warlock? Mine doesn't.

I initially thought Punk or Rebel of sorts, because Harry had
encountered Warlocks mostly in groups at bars, it seemed appropriate.
Then someone posted to this thread to remind me that DD was Chief
Warlock of the Wizegamot, which stumped me. So I have done a little
more contemplating of the matter. 

The Wizengamot always conjured, for me personally, an image of a 
FreeMasons Club. An exclusive group of Gentleman wizards who are the 
powers behind the thrones as is the myth of the FreeMason.

So saying that, I am still leaning toward Warlock being a social
distinction, so I put forward that Warlocks are members of
recognised social orders.
What say you all?

Carol:
> And the name Perkins doesn't fit any better than Macmillan with
> Steve's hypothesis of "warlock" as a term for East European wizards
> (more or less refuted, anyway, by the Anglo Saxon etymology you
refer to).
>

Valky:
Yes, but I have to confess there is a word of European origin that
has been considered as the source of Warlock, the Norse
word "vorlukker" which means conjurer. Still it's not really meshing
with Macmillan is it.
OTOH a distinguished social order meshes nicely with Ernie's pride
in declaring his lineage.