What is a warlock?
A warlock is a male practitioner of witchcraft (distinguished from a wizard or sorcerer, whose magic may be benign). The most commonly accepted etymology derives warlock from the Old English wǣrloga meaning "oathbreaker" or "deceiver".
However, in early modern Scots, the word came to be used as the male equivalent of witch (which can be male or female, but is used predominantly for females). From this use, the word passed into Romantic literature and ultimately 20th-century popular culture. A derivation from the Old Norse varð-lokkur, "caller of spirits", has also been suggested.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
74 Comments
Deborah Gabriel
I knew this answer due to watching the TV show "Bewitched"!
Keith Scholl
Bewitched, Bewitched,
You've got me in your spell.
Bewitched, Bewitched,
You know your craft so well.
Before I knew what I was doing
I looked in your eyes
That brand of woo you've been brewin'
Took me by surprise.
You witch, you witch,
One thing is for sure.
That stuff you pitch
Just hasn't got a cure.
My heart was under lock and key,
But somehow it got unhitched.
I never thought that I could be had
But now I'm caught and I'm kinda glad
To be Bewitched.
source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/bewitchedlyrics.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zyroxZ5mE0
Robin Heckler
David Wilkes,you forgot the word evil in your answer. It was suppose to say A warlock is a male practitioner of "evil" witchcraft(distinguished from a wizard or sorcerer, whose magic may be benign). to actually be a better description of what the Wiki article you are misquoting says. For those of you who say a male witch is just a witch. The question simply asked what a warlock is. In pop culture it IS a just as David Wilkes has told us. a practitioner of "evil" witchcraft.
CHALIBC
I hate when people call male witches warlocks. That's a misnomer and rude. Male Witches are Witches. End of ranting
Kat
No, a warlock is not a male witch. The word means oath breaker. Both males and females are called witch.
Noelito
"modern Scots"? Erm, the term to use is "Scottish" 🙄
gmaa
A Witch deals in Witchcraft be they male or female!
crdemarti
Willow, I think the word you mean is “ connotations .”
Willow RavenWolf
In the Pagan community a male witch is just that;a male witch. The word warlock has bad cognatations.
Spc Kook Dude
Robin Heckler, David Wilkes=Quizzclub webmaster
karenleaton
lindaleetaylor, a "poser" is a person who asks (poses) questions. Someone who is fake is a "poseur".
Donna Smith
Easy question
CHALIBC
lindaleetaylor, Blessed Be Linda
byoung
Technically it's a mythical creature but never mind
(Male witch or wizard)
Mohan Krishnan
Got it
elizawheeler
This is actually inaccurate (although I gave the answer they expected). A male witch is called a witch, just like a female witch. Warlock is a name that was put on male witches by people who were not witches.
lindaleetaylor
Robin Heckler, Just another indictation that you can't always trust what Wiki posts. I've been a witch for 46 years, and I've never known a witch, be he good or evil, who used the term Warlock to designate himself. And to be frank...if they did then you can be sure that they are an uneducated poser who doesn't know a think about witchcraft. Also....the term evil is not used by Witches. Evil is a made up term which merely means you have become unbalanced and must seek the balance to have a good life. Nothing more.
lindaleetaylor
A witch is a witch be it male or female. A male witch is not a Warlock. A warlock is an oath breaker. A liar. No male witch would ever use that for himself.