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==Modern witchcraft==
==Modern witchcraft==
Many practitioners of modern witchcraft do not use the word warlock to identify or self-identify as a practitioner of [[witchcraft]], as explained by Wren Walker (1999), who states that "...self-identifying [[Wicca]]ns consider it a pejorative term, meaning "oath-breaker.""<ref>Walker, Wren (1999). [http://www.witchvox.com/basics/wfaq.html ''Witch/Wiccan FAQ''] from [http://www.witchvox.com The Witches' Voice]. Retrieved 2007-03-12.</ref> In some forms of [[Theistic Satanism|Traditional Satanism]], possibly with its strong association to counter-cultural "shock value,"<ref>{{cite book |author=Kocsis, Richard N. |title=Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes |publisher=Humana Press |location=Totowa, NJ |year=2007 |pages= |isbn=1-58829-685-7 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref> the term "warlock" is also embraced and employed as the primary title for a male member of the group.
Many practitioners of modern witchcraft do not use the word warlock to identify or self-identify as a practitioner of [[witchcraft]], as explained by Wren Walker (1999), who states that "...self-identifying [[Wicca]]ns consider it a pejorative term, meaning "oath-breaker."<ref>Walker, Wren (1999). [http://www.witchvox.com/basics/wfaq.html ''Witch/Wiccan FAQ''] from [http://www.witchvox.com The Witches' Voice]. Retrieved 2007-03-12.</ref> In some forms of [[Theistic Satanism|Traditional Satanism]], possibly with its strong association to counter-cultural "shock value,"<ref>{{cite book |author=Kocsis, Richard N. |title=Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes |publisher=Humana Press |location=Totowa, NJ |year=2007 |pages= |isbn=1-58829-685-7 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref> the term "warlock" is also embraced and employed as the primary title for a male member of the group.


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
<!-- Please do not list Warlocks that are covered in [[Warlock (disambiguation)]]. Also, please only mention examples that have significantly shaped popular understanding of what a warlock is. This is to avoid this section turning into a list of trivia. -->
<!-- Please do not list Warlocks that are covered in [[Warlock (disambiguation)]]. Also, please only mention examples that have significantly shaped popular understanding of what a warlock is. This is to avoid this section turning into a list of trivia. -->


Warlocks appear in a number of fantasy and science fiction novels, movies and games. They may be portrayed as humans who have attained magical or mystical powers, often evil, such as in the fantasy television series ''[[Charmed]]'', in which warlocks are the evil counterparts to good witches. Elsewhere, the distinction between 'warlock' and 'witch' may be purely one of gender, such as in the television series ''[[Bewitched]]'' and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. Alternatively, warlocks may be portrayed as a separate species or alien race, such as in the comic book series ''[[Nemesis the Warlock]]''. Occasionally the term is used to refer to technological wizardry rather than magic, such as in [[Christopher Stasheff]]'s ''Warlock of Gramarye'' series of novels, or in the film ''[[Live Free or Die Hard]]'', where 'W4rl0ck' is a [[Hacker (computer security)|computer hacker]]. In the popular online game [[World of Warcraft]], a Warlock is a playable class that uses Fel(Dark) magic offensively along with summoning demons as minions and draining life from enemies.
Warlocks appear in a number of fantasy and science fiction novels, movies and games. They may be portrayed as humans who have attained magical or mystical powers, often evil, such as in the fantasy television series ''[[Charmed]]'', in which warlocks are the evil counterparts to good witches. Elsewhere, the distinction between "warlock" and "witch" may be purely one of gender, such as in the television series ''[[Bewitched]]'' and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. Alternatively, warlocks may be portrayed as a separate species or alien race, such as in the comic book series ''[[Nemesis the Warlock]]''. Occasionally the term is used to refer to technological wizardry rather than magic, such as in [[Christopher Stasheff]]'s ''Warlock of Gramarye'' series of novels, or in the film ''[[Live Free or Die Hard]]'', where "W4rl0ck" is a [[Hacker (computer security)|computer hacker]]. In the popular online game ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', a <span class="plainlinks">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warlock_(World_of_Warcraft)&oldid=74278717 Warlock]</span> is a playable class that uses Shadow (Dark) magic offensively along with summoning demons as minions and draining life from enemies.


In the J.K. Rowling book the ''[[Tales of Beedle the Bard]]'' in the short story "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" in the footnotes it explains, the term is used to denote wizards experienced in martial magic or who have achieved a level of magical distinction.
In the J.K. Rowling book the ''[[Tales of Beedle the Bard]]'' in the short story "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" in the footnotes it explains, the term is used to denote wizards experienced in martial magic or who have achieved a level of magical distinction.

Also see [[The Mortal Instruments]] book series by [[Cassandra Clare]]. Magnus Bane is an example of a warlock in each of the books.
Also see [[The Mortal Instruments (series)|''The Mortal Instruments'' book series]] by [[Cassandra Clare]]. Magnus Bane is an example of a warlock in each of the books.


The animated series ''[[The New Adventures of Superman]]'' features a recurring villain known as the Warlock (voiced by [[Ray Owens]]), who uses a jewel on his cane known as a Sorcerer's Ruby that gives him magical superpower.
The animated series ''[[The New Adventures of Superman]]'' features a recurring villain known as the Warlock (voiced by [[Ray Owens]]), who uses a jewel on his cane known as a Sorcerer's Ruby that gives him magical superpower.

Revision as of 18:54, 16 December 2009

For other uses, see Warlock (disambiguation).

Warlocks are, among historic Christian traditions, said to be the male equivalent of witches. Likewise, in traditional Scottish witchcraft warlock was and is simply the term used for a wizard, or male witch.[1] A synonym is sorcerer.[2]

Etymology

The commonly accepted etymology derives warlock from the Old English wǣrloga meaning "oathbreaker" or "deceiver."[3] A derivation from the Old Norse varð-lokkur, "caller of spirits," has also been suggested[4][5]; however, the Oxford English Dictionary considers this etymology inadmissible.[6]

The Oxford English Dictionary also provides the following meanings of the word: Warlock v1 Obs. (ex. dial.) rare, also warloke: To secure (a horse) as with a fetterlock. Warlock v2: To bar against hostile invasion.[7]

Modern witchcraft

Many practitioners of modern witchcraft do not use the word warlock to identify or self-identify as a practitioner of witchcraft, as explained by Wren Walker (1999), who states that "...self-identifying Wiccans consider it a pejorative term, meaning "oath-breaker."[8] In some forms of Traditional Satanism, possibly with its strong association to counter-cultural "shock value,"[9] the term "warlock" is also embraced and employed as the primary title for a male member of the group.

Warlocks appear in a number of fantasy and science fiction novels, movies and games. They may be portrayed as humans who have attained magical or mystical powers, often evil, such as in the fantasy television series Charmed, in which warlocks are the evil counterparts to good witches. Elsewhere, the distinction between "warlock" and "witch" may be purely one of gender, such as in the television series Bewitched and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Alternatively, warlocks may be portrayed as a separate species or alien race, such as in the comic book series Nemesis the Warlock. Occasionally the term is used to refer to technological wizardry rather than magic, such as in Christopher Stasheff's Warlock of Gramarye series of novels, or in the film Live Free or Die Hard, where "W4rl0ck" is a computer hacker. In the popular online game World of Warcraft, a Warlock is a playable class that uses Shadow (Dark) magic offensively along with summoning demons as minions and draining life from enemies.

In the J.K. Rowling book the Tales of Beedle the Bard in the short story "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" in the footnotes it explains, the term is used to denote wizards experienced in martial magic or who have achieved a level of magical distinction.

Also see The Mortal Instruments book series by Cassandra Clare. Magnus Bane is an example of a warlock in each of the books.

The animated series The New Adventures of Superman features a recurring villain known as the Warlock (voiced by Ray Owens), who uses a jewel on his cane known as a Sorcerer's Ruby that gives him magical superpower.


See also

Look up warlock in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. ^ McNeill, F. Marian, The Silver Bough: A Four Volume Study of the National and Local Festivals of Scotland, Glasgow: William Maclellan,1957, vol 1; also Chambers, Robert, Domestic Annals of Scotland, Edinburgh: 1861, and Sinclair, George, Satan's Invisible World Discovered, Edinburgh, 1871
  2. ^ Huson, Paul, Mastering Witchcraft: A Practical Guide for Witches, Warlocks, and Covens, New York, G.P.Putnams, 1970, 2006, ISBN 0-595-42006-0
  3. ^ Old English wǽr-loʒa weak masculine (="traitor, enemy, devil, etc.") = Old Saxon wâr-logo weak masculine (=? "deceiver") (once, Hêliand 3817, in plural wârlogon applied to the Pharisees). The first element is probably Old English wǽr strong feminine (="covenant") = Old High German wâra (="truth"), Old Norse várar strong feminine plural ("solemn promise, vow") (cf. Vǽringi = "confederate, Varangian"); cf. Old Slavic. věra ("faith). This is a derivative from the adjective represented by Old English wǽr ("true") (once, Genesis 681; ? a. Old Saxon.) = Old Saxon, Old High German wâr ("true"): - Old Teutonic
    • wǣro-: - Pre-Teutonic
    • wāro- = Latin vērus. The second element (an agent-n. related to Old English léoʒan ("to lie belie, deny") occurs also in the similar comps. áþ-loʒa, tréow-loʒa (Old Saxon treulogo), wed-loʒa (Middle English wedlowe), ("an oath-breaker"), etc. - Oxford English Dictionary, (online) 2nd Edition (1989)
  4. ^ "WARLOCK" (TXT). Ladyoftheearth.com. Retrieved 2006-04-30.
  5. ^ BBC h2g2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4123946 gives further reasons for believing warlock derives from vard-lokkur ("caller of spirits")
  6. ^ "ON. varðlokkur wk. fem. pl. ... incantation, suggested already in Johnson, is too rare (? occurring once), with regard to the late appearance of the -k forms, to be considered." — Oxford English Dictionary, (online) 2nd Edition (1989)
  7. ^ The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary", volume II, Oxford University Press, p.3688
  8. ^ Walker, Wren (1999). Witch/Wiccan FAQ from The Witches' Voice. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  9. ^ Kocsis, Richard N. (2007). Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press. ISBN 1-58829-685-7.
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