0 a woman who is believed to have magical powers and who uses them to harm or help other people:
a witch on a broomstick
Witches were persecuted all over western Europe from the 15th to the 17th century, as it was claimed that they had dealings with the Devil.
1 a woman who is believed to have magical powers and, esp. in stories, uses them to help or harm people
In the story, a wicked witch put a curse on the princess for 100 years.
The witch put a magic spell on the prince and turned him into a frog.
The central character is a malevolent witch out for revenge.
The witch cast/put a spell on the prince and he turned into a frog.
The par t in parentheses is nonsensical, but written as if the witches were using familiar address forms with each other.
In 1570-1, however, the human subterfuge was replaced by 'a wider, more stereotypical malicious use of poisonous grease by witches ' (p. 149).
He is clear that this is not an ' ancient religion ' in the sense which most witches still claim.