Synonyms for hag

Grammar : Noun

Spell : hag

Phonetic Transcription : hæg

Top 10 synonyms for hag

Other synonyms for the word hag

Définition of hag

Origin : early 13c., "ugly old woman," probably a shortening of Old English hægtesse "witch, fury" (on assumption that -tesse was a suffix), from Proto-Germanic *hagatusjon-, of unknown origin. Similar shortening produced Dutch heks, German Hexe "witch" from cognate Middle Dutch haghetisse, Old High German hagzusa.
First element is probably cognate with Old English haga "enclosure, portion of woodland marked off for cutting" (see hedge). Old Norse had tunriða and Old High German zunritha, both literally "hedge-rider," used of witches and ghosts. Second element may be connected with Norwegian tysja "fairy; crippled woman," Gaulish dusius "demon," Lithuanian dvasia "spirit," from PIE *dhewes- "to fly about, smoke, be scattered, vanish."
One of the magic words for which there is no male form, suggesting its original meaning was close to "diviner, soothsayer," which were always female in northern European paganism, and hægtesse seem at one time to have meant "woman of prophetic and oracular powers" (Ælfric uses it to render the Greek "pythoness," the voice of the Delphic oracle), a figure greatly feared and respected. Later, the word was used of village wise women.
Haga is also the haw- in hawthorn, which is an important tree in northern European pagan religion. There may be several layers of folk etymology here. Confusion or blending with heathenish is suggested by Middle English hæhtis, hægtis "hag, witch, fury, etc.," and haetnesse "goddess," used of Minerva and Diana.
If the hægtesse was once a powerful supernatural woman (in Norse it is an alternative word for Norn, any of the three weird sisters, the equivalent of the Fates), it might originally have carried the hawthorn sense. Later, when the pagan magic was reduced to local scatterings, it might have had the sense of "hedge-rider," or "she who straddles the hedge," because the hedge was the boundary between the "civilized" world of the village and the wild world beyond. The hægtesse would have a foot in each reality. Even later, when it meant the local healer and root collector, living in the open and moving from village to village, it may have had the mildly pejorative sense of hedge- in Middle English (hedge-priest, etc.), suggesting an itinerant sleeping under bushes, perhaps. The same word could have contained all three senses before being reduced to its modern one.

noun biddy

Example sentences :

The old man's description of her as a hag had not been far wrong.
Extract from : « The Martian Cabal » by Roman Frederick Starzl

A nymph with bright and flowing hair; a hag like Hecuba, by Jove!
Extract from : « Tom Burke Of "Ours", Volume I (of II) » by Charles James Lever

"'T is out," said the hag; and as she spoke, the wick fell into the saucer, and all was dark.
Extract from : « Confessions Of Con Cregan » by Charles James Lever

The hag laughed again, although she was not looking at them.
Extract from : « Ruth Fielding and the Gypsies » by Alice B. Emerson

The hag was muttering her incantations and did not heed the girl.
Extract from : « Tess of the Storm Country » by Grace Miller White

A mystery shrouded the way in which she fell into the hands of Hag Zogbaum.
Extract from : « An Outcast » by F. Colburn Adams

But if he did, he always kept it a secret between himself and Hag Zogbaum.
Extract from : « An Outcast » by F. Colburn Adams

Hag Zogbaum said he was always meddling with other people's business.
Extract from : « An Outcast » by F. Colburn Adams

"Destiny placed them as they are, young men," said the hag, solemnly.
Extract from : « Eventide » by Effie Afton

"Because she will love another," repeated the hag in a low, but firm, decided tone.
Extract from : « Eventide » by Effie Afton

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