bewitchery means the power of bewitching or fascinating; charm; witchcraft. It carries an Arena rating of 1714, earned across 8 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, bewitchery ranks #1,610 of 13,217 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #1,959 of 13,217 for Scariest Words, #2,409 of 13,217 for Most Whimsical Words, #2,409 of 13,217 for Most Satisfying to Say.
Why “bewitchery” is a great word
The inherent power or quality that fascinates or enchants, possessing the uncanny resonance of witchcraft. From 'bewitch' (from Middle English *bewicchen*, from Old English *bewiccian*, from *be-* + *wiccian*, 'to practice witchcraft') + the noun-forming suffix '-ery'. Unlike "bewitchment" (which names the act or the resulting state of enchantment) or "charm" (a broader, more sunlit appeal), bewitchery is the latent, unsettling force that compels such a state—often with a hint of malice. It is the glint in a predator's eye that paralyzes its prey, the scent of night-blooming jasmine that makes you pause on a dark path, and the low melody hummed just below hearing that seems to pull at the very air—a quiet testament that the oldest magics reside not in spells, but in attention itself.
Etymology
From bewitch + -ery.
noun
- The power of bewitching or fascinating; charm; witchcraft.“There is a certain bewitchery or fascination in words.”
Words closest in meaning
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