witchcraft

IPA/ˈwɪtʃkrɑːft/
KK[wˈɪtʃkrˌæft]IPA/ˈwɪtʃkræft/

witchcraft — 名詞

1. traditional practices involving magic spells and rituals that people believe can

1.名詞B2
釋義

巫術

運用魔法影響他人事物的傳統行為

traditional practices involving magic spells and rituals that people believe can influence events, heal illnesses, or bring harm to others

例句

The villagers accused the old woman of witchcraft when their cattle began to die mysteriously.

村民們的牛開始神祕死亡後，他們指控那位老婦人行巫術。

accused of witchcraft — used in historical persecution context

Many people tried for witchcraft in the 1600s were local healers or midwives.

十七世紀許多被以巫術罪名審判的人其實是當地的治療師或助產士。

同義詞
  • sorcery

    more negative and associated with evil or harmful magic

  • magic

    broader term that includes both supernatural and stage magic

  • black magic

    specifically refers to magic intended to cause harm

用法筆記

Historically, this sense carried strong negative associations and was often used to justify persecution. In modern contexts, the word can still provoke fear or misunderstanding depending on the audience.

常見錯誤

❌She practiced witchcraft by performing card tricks at the party.
✅She performed card tricks at the party.
💡Stage magic or sleight of hand is not witchcraft, which involves claimed supernatural powers.

2. a modern spiritual or religious system, such as Wicca, that centres on the pract

2.名詞B2
釋義

自然巫術

以自然崇拜為核心的現代宗教實踐

a modern spiritual or religious system, such as Wicca, that centres on the practice of magic, reverence for nature, and seasonal ceremonies

例句

Adina joined a local coven to explore witchcraft as a nature-based spiritual path.

Adina 加入當地的女巫集會，將自然巫術視為一條與自然連結的靈性道路。

coven + nature-based spiritual path — modern religious practice

For many neo-pagan groups, witchcraft involves celebrating the solstices and working with herbs and crystals.

對許多新異教團體而言，自然巫術包含慶祝冬至夏至，以及使用藥草與水晶。

neo-pagan groups + celebrating solstices — religious ritual context

同義詞
  • Wicca

    a specific organised neo-pagan religion that includes witchcraft practices

  • paganism

    broader term for earth-centred spiritual traditions, not all of which involve witchcraft

  • the Craft

    insider term used by practitioners to refer to their tradition

用法筆記

Practitioners of this sense often refer to witchcraft as 'the Craft' and view it as a legitimate religion. Unlike the traditional sense, this meaning carries no inherent negative judgement and is protected under religious freedom laws in many countries.

常見錯誤

❌Practitioners of neo-pagan witchcraft worship the devil.
✅Most practitioners of neo-pagan witchcraft do not believe in the devil at all.
💡The modern religious sense has no connection to Satanism or devil worship; it is typically focused on nature and ancient deities.