witchcraft

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++witch·craft /ˈwɪtʃkrɑːft $ -kræft/ noun [uncountable]  the use of magic powers, especially evil ones, to make things happen 巫术；魔法

Examples from the Corpus

witchcraft• At that time, hundreds of women were burned at the stake for witchcraft.• Then, widening our focus, we looked at Lugbara witchcraft and the ancestor cult which complements and completes it.• For three hundred years the persecution of witchcraft was to continue until the advent of our modern scientific world.• This theory became the basis for the examination and torture of those suspected of witchcraft.• She could try to forget him; she could attempt an exorcism by her particular witchcraft of compulsive denigration.• People who were accused of practicing witchcraft were thrown into the lake.• Last May, he said, she erected an altar to witchcraft on his dresser.• How do these findings bear upon our earlier discussion of Zande witchcraft?

witch·craft nounChineseSyllable  

Corpus the especially use of powers, evil magic

witchcraft
witch‧craft /ˈwɪtʃkrɑːft $ -kræft/ noun [uncountable]
the use of magic powers, especially evil ones, to make things happen
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ magic noun [uncountable] the power to make impossible things happen, by saying special words or doing special actions: In the story, she uses magic to turn him into a frog. | Local people believe that he can heal wounds and illnesses using magic.
   ▪ witchcraft noun [uncountable] the use of magic, usually to do bad things: Hundreds of women were accused of witchcraft in the 1600s.
   ▪ spell noun [countable] a special set of words or actions that are used to make something happen by magic: a magic spell | An evil witch cast a spell on him (=said a special set of words or did a special series of actions, in order to make something happen to someone by magic), turning him into a beast.
   ▪ curse (also hex American English) noun [countable] something that makes someone or something have bad luck: The house seemed to have a curse on it. | People believed the pharaoh would put a curse on (=use magic to make them have bad luck)anyone who broke into the tomb. | She believed her former husband had put a hex on her.
   ▪ the occult mysterious powers and events that involve magic and spirits: He was very interested in the occult.
   ▪ voodoo noun [uncountable] magical beliefs and practices used as a form of religion: a voodoo curse | In Haiti, the people still practice voodoo.

witch·craftBrE /ˈwɪtʃkrɑːft/ 🔊NAmE /ˈwɪtʃkræft/ 🔊 noun [uncountable] the use of magic powers, especially evil ones 巫术；（尤指）妖术，魔法