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Subject:Re: Who's the Wizard(ess) --but Wicce is Witch... From:Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:14:47 -0800
"McDonald, Nancy A." wrote:
> I studied Old English (circa 600 AD) a few years back, and learned that the
> vernacular then had begun to be recorded via written word. One item of Old
> English grammar: a double "c" which was pronounced as in today's "ch".
> Thus the Wicce (pronounced "Witcha") was defined as "Wise Woman"
Your pronounciation is accurate, but I'm afraid your definition is
romantic speculation. In the surviving Old English texts, a "wicca"
is an evil figure, associated with giants, monsters, and other
supernatural creatures. Possibly, this is a clerical bias. And,
undoubtedly, what is written down is only a small part of a thriving
oral tradition. Unfortunately, however, that is all we have. I know
that the "wise woman" definition is widespread among modern witches,
I don't mean to offend modern witches by this statement - I only
mean to point out a lack of evidence for this definition.
--
Bruce Byfield 317.833.0313 bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com
Director of Marketing and Communications, Progeny Linux Systems
Contributing Editor, Maximum Linux
"As through this world I travel, I've met with many men,
Some will rob you with a six gun and some with a fountain pen,
But as through this world you travel, as through this world you
roam,
You won't ever see an outlaw drive a family from its home."
-Woody Guthrie, "The Ballad of Pretty Boy Floyd"
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