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Witchcraft - Law Dictionary Search Results

Home Dictionary Name: witchcraft

Witchcraft

Witchcraft, conjuration; sorcery.The practices of a witch, esp. in black magic; sorcery, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 1595.By the Witchcraft Act, 1735 (so styled by the Short Titles act, 1896) (9 Geo. 2, c. 5), 'no prosecution shall be carried on against any person for witchcraft, sorcery, enactments, or conjuration, or for charging another with any such offence in Great Britain'; but it is also enacted that all persons pretending to use any kind of witchcraft, etc., shall upon conviction on indictment suffer one whole year's imprison-ment, and also be obliged to give sureties for good behaviour if the Court thinks fit [R.v. Stephenson, (1904) 68 J.P. 524] See VAGRANT. Prior to this Act witchcraft was a capital offence (see 1 & 2 Jac. 1, c. 12), and a woman and her daughter aged nine years were hanged at Huntingdon for selling their souls to Stan as recently as 1716, this being the last execution in England for witchcraft. Pope Alexander the Sixth nominated a commission against...


Sorcery

Sorcery. Prosecution for witchcraft, sorcery, etc., or for charging another with any such offences, is abolished by the Witchcraft Act, 1735 (9 Geo. 2, c. 5); but the same Act enacts that persons pretending to use witchcraft, sorcery, etc., shall suffer one year's imprisonment on conviction. Persons using any subtle craft, means, or device, by palmistry or otherwise, to deceive the people, are rogues and vagabonds, and to be punished with imprisonment and hard labour, Vagrancy Act, 1824 (5 Geo. 4, c. 83), s. 4....


Magic

Magic, witchcraft and sorcery. See WITCHCRAFT....


Bewitch

To gain an ascendency over by charms or incantations to affect esp to injure by witchcraft or sorcery...


Fascination

The act of fascinating bewitching or enchanting enchantment witchcraft the exercise of a powerful or irresistible influence on the affections or passions unseen inexplicable influence...


Fascinous

Caused or acting by witchcraft...


Goety

Invocation of evil spirits witchcraft...


hoodooism

Voodoo a form of religion practiced chiefly in Caribbean countries esp Haiti it involves witchcraft and animistic deities...


Magic

A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural beings or departed spirits or by a mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science including enchantment conjuration witchcraft sorcery necromancy incantation etc...


Dry-cr'ft

Dry-cr'ft [Celt. Dravi, magician; draoid-headh, magic; hence also druid], witchcraft; magic, Anc. Inst. Eng....


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