At 5:44 AM -0800 3/31/03, Harmon Seaver wrote: >On Mon, Mar 31, 2003 at 10:15:46AM +0100, Steve Mynott wrote: >> 3. "Wicca" is a modern invention. > > Hardly. >WEIK- [2]. In words connectid with magic and religious notions (in > Germanic and Latin). 1. Germanic suffixed form *WIH-L- in Old >English > WIGLE, divination, sorcery, akin to the Germanic source of Old >French > GUILE, cunning trickery: GUILE. 2. Germanic expressive form >*WIKK- > in: a. Old English WICCA, wizard, and WICCE, witch: WITCH; >b. Old > English WICCIAN, to cast a spell: BEWITCH.
My ODE defines Wicche as an obsolete word meaning witch. Now, one can argue whether the modern concept of Wicca has any relation to the old northern European religions, but the word seems be based on fairly old roots. Cheers - Bill ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Frantz | Due process for all | Periwinkle -- Consulting (408)356-8506 | used to be the | 16345 Englewood Ave. [EMAIL PROTECTED] | American way. | Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA
