warlockとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From 中期英語 warloghe, warlowe, warloȝe, from 古期英語 wǣrloga (“traitor, deceiver”, literally “truce-breaker”), from Proto-West Germanic *wārulogō (“liar”), equivalent to 古期英語 wǣr (“covenant, truce, pact, promise”) (from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁- (“true”); whence also Latin vērus) + loga (“liar”), from Proto-Germanic *lugô, related to 古期英語 lēogan (whence English lie). The hard -ck ending originated in Scottish and Northern English, like the sense "male magic-user" (from the notion that such men were in league with the Devil and had thus broken their baptismal vows / betrayed Christianity). Cognate with Old Saxon wārlogo (“liar, unfaithful or insidious one”).

A few writers alternatively propose a derivation from Old Norse varðlokkur (“incantations, charms”, literally “ward songs”), but as the OED notes, this is implausible due to the extreme rarity of the Norse word, the semantic difference, and because forms without hard -k, which are consistent with the 古期英語 etymology (“traitor”), are attested earlier than forms with -k, and forms with -ð- are not attested.

発音

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈwɔː.lɒk/
• (General American) IPA: /ˈwɔɹ.lɑk/

名詞

warlock (plural warlocks)

1. A male magic-user; a male witch; a wizard.
   • 1730, Edward Burt, Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland:

     He was himself a warlock, or wizard, which they knew by his taking the witch's part.

   • 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

     It was the day of warlocks and apparitions, now happily driven out by the zeal of the General Assembly.

2. (especially in fantasy) A magic-user (regardless of gender).
   • 2015 February 25, Lawrence Watt-Evans, The Spell of the Black Dagger: A Legend of Ethshar, Wildside Press LLC, →ISBN, page 115:

     “Is it because she was a warlock?” she asked. “I know different kinds of magic . . .” “No, that's not it, or at least . . .” Mereth paused, collecting her thoughts, then explained, “The warlockry doesn't help, Lady Sarai, […]”

   • 2015 March 17, Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman, The Lost Herondale, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

     It seemed like a strange thing for her to risk on a student she barely knew—but then, she was a warlock. Simon had no idea what they were capable of, but he was getting better at imagining.

   • 2015 July 21, Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman, Pale Kings and Princes, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

     Usually she blended in with the rest of the Academy faculty, making it easy to forget she was a warlock (at least, if you overlooked the blue skin). But he'd noticed that whenever another Downworlder was on campus, Catarina went out […]

   • 2020 September 1, Cassandra Clare, Wesley Chu, The Lost Book of the White, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

     “We're also looking for a couple of warlocks,” Magnus said. “A Korean woman and a green fellow with horns.” “Oh,” said Fang with a distinct change of mood. “Them.” “You've seen them?” Alec said, trying not to sound too eager.

使用する際の注意点

• Because of its etymology, the term is not used by some male witches in modern practices, who prefer other terms like witch instead.

参照

アナグラム

• lacwork