| wit | <psychology> The faculty of expressing the amusing, clever, or comical or the keen perception and cleverly apt expression of connections between ideas that awaken amusement and pleasure. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| witch | 1. One who practices the black art, or magic; one regarded as possessing supernatural or magical power by compact with an evil spirit, especially. With the Devil; a sorcerer or sorceress; now applied chiefly or only to women, but formerly used of men as well. "There was a man in that city whose name was Simon, a witch." (Wyclif (Acts viii. 9)) "He can not abide the old woman of Brentford; he swears she's a witch." (Shak) 2. An ugly old woman; a hag. 3. One who exercises more than common power of attraction; a charming or bewitching person; also, one given to mischief; said especially of a woman or child. 4. <geometry> A certain curve of the third order, described by Maria Agnesi under the name versiera. 5. <zoology> The stormy petrel. Witch balls, a name applied to the interwoven rolling masses of the stems of herbs, which are driven by the winds over the steppes of Tartary. Cf. Tumbleweed. 6. <botany> Witches' besoms, vegetable sulphur. See Vegetable. Origin: OE. Wicche, AS. Wicce, fem, wicca, masc.; perhaps the same word as AS. Witiga, witga, a soothsayer (cf. Wiseacre); cf. Fries. Wikke, a witch, LG. Wikken to predict, Icel. Vitki a wizard, vitka to bewitch. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witch hazel | <botany> A genus of plants which includes the witch-hazel (Hamamelis Virginica), a preparation of which is used medicinally. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. A kind of medlar or service tree; at the same time + an apple, any tree fruit. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witch's milk | A secretion of colostrum-like milk sometimes occurring in the glands of newborn infants of either sex 3 to 4 days after birth and lasting a week or two; due to endocrine stimulation from the mother before birth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| witch-elm | <botany> See Wych-elm. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witch-hazel | <botany> The wych-elm. An American shrub or small tree (Hamamelis Virginica), which blossoms late in autumn. See: Wych-elm, and Hazel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witch-tree | <botany> The witch-hazel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witchcraft | An act of employing sorcery (the use of power gained from the assistance or control of spirits), especially with malevolent intent, and the exercise of supernatural powers and alleged intercourse with the devil or a familiar. (12 Dec 1998) |
| witchery | 1. Sorcery; enchantment; witchcraft. "Great Comus, Deep skilled in all his mother's witcheries." (Milton) "A woman infamous . . . For witcheries." (Sir W. Scott) 2. Fascination; irresistible influence; enchantment. "He never felt The witchery of the soft blue sky." (Wordsworth) "The dear, dear witchery of song." (Bryant) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witchuck | <zoology> The sand martin, or bank swallow. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witfish | <zoology> The ladyfish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| withamit | <chemical> A variety of epidote, of a reddish colour, found in Scotland. Origin: From its discoverer, H. Witham. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| withdraw | 1. To take back or away, as what has been bestowed or enjoyed; to draw back; to cause to move away or retire; as, to withdraw aid, favor, capital, or the like. "Impossible it is that God should withdraw his presence from anything." (Hooker) 2. To take back; to recall or retract; as, to withdraw false charges. Origin: With against + draw. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| withdrawal | 1. <psychology> A pathological retreat from interpersonal contact and social involvement, as may occur in schizophrenia, depression or schizoid avoidant and schizotypal personality disorders. 2. <pharmacology> A substance specific organic brain syndrome that follows the cessation of use or reduction in intake of a psychoactive substance that had been regularly used to induce a state of intoxication. (06 Oct 1997) |
| withdrawal reflex | Flexion of ankle, knee, and hip when the foot is painfully stimulated; the crossed extension reflex occurs in association with it. Synonym: defense reflex, nociceptive reflex, withdrawal reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |