noun
warlock
WOR-lahk/ˈwɔːrlɑːk/
A person, usually male, who practices witchcraft or dark magic.
The robed warlock studies a spell diagram beside herbs and a candle.
Etymology
The covenant and lying elements suggest an original sense of “oath-breaker.” Applied especially to the devil, the word later meant someone in league with the devil, then a male witch.
In context
giles redfern a very experienced witch hunter has imprisoned a powerful warlock atop a stone tower
More examples
- The game lets players choose a warlock character.
- A feared warlock guarded the enchanted tower.
- The story's warlocks competed for a magical relic.
Forms
warlock · warlocks
Similar words
- wizard
- Usually a male magic-user without necessarily implying dark magic.
- sorcerer
- Sorcerer is a broader term for a magical practitioner without warlock's particular connotations.