hægtesse

witch, sorceress

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A frightening elderly witch character in folklore, stern rugged face, no caricature of any ethnicity.

noun

hag

HAG/hæɡ/

A frightening or malicious old woman or witchlike female figure.

Etymology

hagOld Englishwitch, sorceress

Hag probably comes from Old English hægtesse, a witch or sorceress. This connects the frightening old woman of the modern sense with an older figure associated with supernatural powers.

Full entry

hægtesse

hag

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