How do you call a male witch?

[S@tanicoaldo]

How do you call and roleplay a male witch?

Ideas?

[Jeff the Green]

Depends. "Witch" is appropriate for both sexes in at least some contexts. Alternatively there's 'wizard', 'warlock', 'cunning man' 'seiðmaðr' ('ð' is pronounced like 'th' in 'the'; I have no idea what the pronunciation of the 'r' on the end is), or 'stregono'.

[Vitruviansquid]

I'd go with "Manwich"

[Averis Vol]

Warlock is the most proper term I believe. Thank you scooby doo.

[Anxe]

I've always heard the term warlock for male witches. I would roleplay a male witch exactly like Miracle Max from The Princess Bride.

[A Tad Insane]

I would yell their name really loudly, unless phones had been invented. Then I'd dial his number

[KillianHawkeye]

Growing up, I always thought that Warlock was the male version of a Witch.

But then Harry Potter equated Witches with Wizards, and then D&D came up with a Warlock class that's totally different from the Witch class, and I just don't goddamn know anymore!

[Galen]

According to Wikipedia, "witch" can be either male or female. So a male witch is just called "witch".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft

Also:

"Warlock" is sometimes mistakenly used for male witch.

[azoetia]

"Witch" can apply to either gender. It's not uncommon for IRL practitioners of modern witchcraft to consider the term "warlock" to be a grave insult, taking it to mean one guilty of cowardice, oath-breaking, and lies, though it's hardly universal.

[Amaril]

According to my one Wiccan friend (for whatever that's worth), "warlock" is indeed inappropriate, and witch is the proper term for practitioners of any sex and gender.

[Marlowe]

"Witch" is appropriate for both genders. "Warlock", aside from being an archaic verb meaning "To bind for sacrifice", is generally a lot more negative in it's connotations.

[Dire Moose]

One of the players in a PBP game I'm running now is referring to his male witch as a "Witcher".

[Aron Times]

Woman = Witch
Man = Mitch

My logic is foolproof. In that it is proof that I am a fool.

[Anxe]

Woman = Witch
Man = Mitch

My logic is foolproof. In that it is proof that I am a fool.

O_O I used to work with a guy named Mitch! Should I be afraid?

[Gnome Alone]

"Witch" is appropriate for both genders. "Warlock", aside from being an archaic verb meaning "To bind for sacrifice", is generally a lot more negative in it's connotations.

Now I can roll up a Warlock who warlocks things.

[BWR]

{{scrubbed}}

[Gracht Grabmaw]

My male gravewalker still calls himself a witch, although Common is his third language so he may not be aware that a witch is a female-only title at all. But he is fine with witcher and warlock as well, as long as you don't call him a wizard.

[Gnome Alone]

{{scrubbed}}

How's it supposed to be pronounced? "Witcha"? Please tell me it's pronounced witcha.

[Sartharina]

I would yell their name really loudly, unless phones had been invented. Then I'd dial his number

Of course, if magic is available, Sending is an option. Or Whispering Wind if you know where they hang out but don't know any specific ones. Dream's an option if you don't want to wake them up and they're asleep.

[Agrippa]

Witch is unisex, a title for sorcerous/occult sages. On the other hand warlock is magic speak for traitor or oathbreaker. Basically a warlock is magical Jaime Lannister. Minus the sororial incest with the queen, three inbred bastard children and shoving an innocent little boy off a ledge for catching a glimpse of him humping his sister.

[Eldan]

How's it supposed to be pronounced? "Witcha"? Please tell me it's pronounced witcha.

Apparently? Yes.

But then, again, roots seem to be "weik" and "wikjo", so who knows.

But yeah, male forms would be "witch" or "wiccan".

[Anlashok]

Keep in mind though that a lot of the "X is inappropriate" isn't a particularly hard and fast rule. There's a lot of make-it-up-as-you-go involved in stuff like this.

Especially given that a lot of games that run "Witch" classes have far more in common with biblical witchcraft than wicca.

The Pathfinder Witch, for instance, has making a pact with a mysterious, supernatural patron as a centerpiece of its class features, which actually makes Warlock a pretty accurate term (since Warlocks are usually differentiated from Wizards because of said aforementioned pact-making on the part of the former).

[Jeff the Green]

(since Warlocks are usually differentiated from Wizards because of said aforementioned pact-making on the part of the former).

I think that's only D&D. 'Warlock' denotes a magic-user and connotes a male and evil one; nothing about the word as normally used implies pact-making.

[Spiryt]

Warlock pretty much means 'oath breaker', 'liar', 'betrayer'.

The 'war' core meaning mostly 'truth, righteousness' which apparently is mostly extinct in English, but doing OK in German - see Wahrsager, 'prophet, fortune teller', literally truth teller.

Lock is some variation of the 'loga (liar)' core.

Wiktionary confirms that definition at least.

[hamishspence]

In D&D of course, it's possible to play a female warlock.

And also a good warlock (CG in 3rd ed, G and LG in 4th ed, LG, NG and CG in 5th ed).

[Marlowe]

Now I can roll up a Warlock who warlocks things.

"Right! Which Warlock warlocked the witch which were locked in the war locker with the worn locks?"

"Which locker?"

"War locker!"

"Which witch in the war locker?"

"The witch in the war locker that were warlocked!"

"The witch that were warlocked with the worn locks from the war locker?"

"Yes! Which Warlock warlocked the witch?"

"It were Locke."

"I hate you."

[BWR]

Apparently? Yes.

But then, again, roots seem to be "weik" and "wikjo", so who knows.

Correct. I doubt the guy who invented the modern 'wiccan' stuff knew a lot of etymology. If he did, he probably would have known how to pronounce 'wiccan' correctly, or could have come up with a better spelling for that word with a hard /k/ sound.

[KillianHawkeye]

It's not uncommon for IRL practitioners of modern witchcraft to consider the term "warlock" to be a grave insult, taking it to mean one guilty of cowardice, oath-breaking, and lies, though it's hardly universal.

To be fair, though, the word "witch" hardly has a sterling reputation either historically or in modern pop culture. It's no longer 100% negative, but I'd hesitate to say it isn't still more of a negative than a positive. At best, we've gotten to the point where we have the classical and iconic "wicked witch" stereotype and maybe a bit of "oh yeah, well there are some good ones, too."

[Storm_Of_Snow]

I'd say witch as well - although I guess you could also go with something like shaman if you wanted.

[hamishspence]

Male witches who are rulers seem to crop up a few times in fiction and gaming - "The Witch King".